The media saga that is James Yap and Kris Aquino continued yesterday when the alleged affair of the basketball player with a former clinic assistant escalated into an apparent network war between television giants ABS-CBN and GMA.

In an interview aired over ABS-CBN's "Rated K", Kris said she is standing by her husband even after Hope Centeno, Yap's alleged mistress, came out on national television, claiming that she had an 11-month sexual relationship with the basketball player from Escalante City.

"I love you that's why I'm standing by you," Aquino, who is seven months pregnant with her and James' first child, told her husband.

"We are here right now because of our baby".

In the same interview, Yap repeatedly denied having a relationship with Centeno, who claimed she had sexual encounters with the cager inside a small cubicle at the Belo Medical Group clinic in Quezon City.

Centeno claimed her affair with Yap started March last year. She added they last spoke to each other Jan. 15. In denying their alleged affair, Yap went even further by hinting that the woman obviously was not in the proper mindset when she revealed things about him.

Yap hinted that he is planning to sue Centeno. "This is too much. I want to sue her," Yap said in Filipino.

Three hours before the Yaps' interview was aired, Centeno came out on GMA's S-Files and wasted no time in apologizing to Aquino, saying she never meant to destroy the television show host's marriage with Yap.

Aquino lashed out at Centeno for endangering her and the baby in her womb.

"How dare you say sorry to me [after putting my baby's life at risk]," said the seventh-month pregnant Aquino, who later admitted that she has not completely forgiven Yap over the alleged affair.

The actress was rushed to the hospital Thursday after complaining of false labor pains caused by too much stress. At the same time, her blood sugar level also shot up at an alarming rate.

Aquino also lambasted her critics for using Centeno to hurt her feelings. "I'm angry at those people who took advantage of this situation. How many times do they have to crucify me [just because I'm a competitor?]," Aquino said.

"Not once was there an insinuation of a venue, of a woman, of an affair. She volunteered herself. She said all these things with the intent of destroying our relationship. She succeeded in hurting me," the TV host added.

Aquino further said she will fight to defend her marriage. "We're holding on now not because of each other. We're holding on because we have a family."

Centeno said Aquino perhaps also knew what she was feeling when the affair came out in public, referring to the TV host's previous relationships with Joey Marquez, when the latter was still married to Alma Moreno, and Philip Salvador. *CPT

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