JIMMY Alapag’s first game as NLEX head coach on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena brought back a lot of memories.
Mostly good.
Nearly 13 years ago, Alapag enjoyed one of the finest hours of his basketball career during Gilas Pilipinas’ semifinal game against Korea in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship on August 10 where he was one of the heroes.
READ Alapag urges Marcio to make his three-point record 'unbreakable'
At the 54-second mark of the fourth quarter, Alapag drained a three-pointer that extended Gilas’ lead to 84-79. The hosts eventually won, 86-79, to clinch a spot in the final and seal a place in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain.
Alapag wound up with 14 points while shooting a team-high four three-pointers in the game, but none bigger than the one he made late in the fourth quarter.
Memories came flooding back for Alapag when he arrived at the Mall of Asia Arena for Saturday’s match-up against Converge in his first game as PBA coach at the venue, and the first since he returned to the country after several years of being part of the Sacramento Kings program in the NBA.
“It was funny. When I walked in, I walked in the same entrance that we exited the floor when we beat Korea,” Alapag said.
“Definitely a nostalgic moment. Just brought back a lot of great memories of that night,” Alapag added.
“The coaching staff, the players, the fans, the Gilas fans, the PBA fans. Such a special night,” Alapag said.
Alapag said he will always remember that night where Gilas made Philippine basketball history by finally exorcising the South Korea hex.
“Especially to be able to walk together with my eight-year-old, he wasn’t born yet. Hopefully, later on, he will understand the magnitude of what we did that night.
“Just a special moment being back at Mall of Asia. Some very special memories, not just for the Gilas program but I think for the country. To be able to walk back to these doors is pretty special,” Alapag said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
