NLEX returns to action on Sunday where a litmus test awaits for the Road Warriors and new head coach Jimmy Alapag against San Miguel in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
The Road Warriors started the conference by playing and winning all three games in five days to gain an early lead in Group A in the team standings after beating Macau, Terrafirma, and Titan Ultra.
After 12 days, the Road Warriors resume their campaign against the Beermen in a battle of undefeated squads who are now in a share of first place in their group.
READ: George King's arrival leaves San Miguel's import woes in the past
Prior to the break, Alapag emphasized the importance of that two-week preparation with their next set of games also including Converge and TNT, his former ballclub.
“I’m really happy with ‘yung effort nila. Everybody who is playing is having a positive impact in the game which has been great,” Alapag said.
Alapag is set to compete against San Miguel that is still being led by June Mar Fajardo, his teammate during his first and only FIBA Basketball World Cup appearance in 2014 in Seville, Spain.
“Up to this point, yes,” Alapag said when asked if Sunday’s match against San Miguel will be their true test. “Nandoon pa si June Mar. He has dominated this league for years. I think it will be a great test for us not just for us big guys but for our entire team.
NLEX faces San Miguel on Sunday, 5:15 p.m. at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
In his PBA career, Alapag is known for his years with TNT where he played for 12 years and won six championships.
But Alapag spent the first few years of his coaching career in the PBA with San Miguel where he briefly was part of the coaching staff from 2019 to 2020 before he moved to the United States during the pandemic.
Alapag saw first hand how San Miguel built a championship caliber squad, something that he also aspires that he can replicate with NLEX in his coaching career.
“I think San Miguel has really stamped their legacy in this league with their dominance behind June Mar. Great challenge for our guys especially this early in the conference,” Alapag said.
“I’ve seen the talent. I’ve seen the chemistry there. And we are still building on that. My vision is hopefully, we will get there someday down the road,” Alapag said.
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