James to his Family

MANILA, Philippines - Basketball star James Yap has appealed to his fans to pray that he will still be able to reunite with his wife actress-TV host Kris Aquino.

Although Yap refused to talk about their relationship, he admitted that life is not the same without his family. “Miss ko na sila,” he said.

Last week, Aquino left for the United States together with Yap’s son, Baby James, as well as her son with Phillip Salvador, Joshua, after confirming that she had already given up on her marriage.

Yap stayed behind in the Philippines as he and his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team, B-Meg Derby Ace, fight for a Final 4 seat in the league’s Fiesta Conference.

“Pagdating sa personal kong buhay, no comment muna ako. Nandito ako ngayon para focus muna sa game,” said the PBA star.

“I-pag-pray n'yo na lang kami na sana magkaayos pa [ang relasyon namin],” he added.

Yap earlier said he would fight to keep his family intact despite Kris' categorical statement that their marriage was over.

"Nangako ako kay Mom Cory (the late former president Corazon Aquino) na hindi ko pababayaan ang pamilya namin. Na aalagaan ko si Kris, si Josh at si Baby James. Nangako rin kami ni Kris sa harap ni Mom Cory na hindi kami maghihiwalay,” he said.

He also pointed out that he and his wife have been through a lot, “and I don’t think this is the time for us to give up.”

Aquino said she finally decided to break her relationship with Yap after he allegedly said some harsh words against her in front of their son, Baby James.

Aquino’s lawyers, however, said she will be seeking an annulment of her marriage to Yap.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN's Marie Lozano, lawyer Anna Liza Logan said the TV host is not seeking legal separation.

Logan is a partner of the Marcos Ochoa Serapio and Tan, the law firm retained by Aquino.

“We will have the court decide na yung marriage was void from the beginning,” she said.

Logan said they are now preparing the petition for the declaration of nullity of marriage.

Once the decision becomes final, the parties are free to enter into separate partnerships once again.

This is different from a mere legal separation, where the bond is only dissolved “in fact.” -- report from Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News