Trip down memory lane ends in a victory for Alapag, NLEX

Jimmy Alapag’s nascent coaching stint with NLEx has been one nostalgia tour.

And Saturday’s victory over Converge in the PBA Governors’ Cup was no different.

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The Road Warriors improved to 5-0 and remain the only team without a loss in the group stage following the 119-107 victory at the Mall of Asia Arena, a venue that holds a special place in Alapag’s heart.

“It was funny when I walked in earlier today,” Alapag said. “I walked in the same entrance that we exited the floor when we beat [South] Korea.”

That game was the historic semifinal of the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship when Alapag’s dagger three from the left elbow secured Gilas Pilipinas’ place in the 2014 World Cup and ended a 27-year drought against the South Koreans.

Gilas would eventually settle for silver to Iran, but fulfilling the goal of returning to the World Cup has absolutely become one of the calling cards of Alapag and the rest of that squad.

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“Definitely a nostalgic moment,” Alapag said. “Just brought back a lot of great memories of that night.”

He’s doubly glad that his Mall of Asia return ended on a winning note, as NLEx went full 180 degrees from a 42-point first quarter and a lead of 19 to trail 64-63 at halftime.

Strong performances from import DeQuan Jones, Schonny Winston, Robert Bolick and Tony Semerad enabled the Road Warriors to move one-win shy of sweeping the first round of Group A.

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“We went away from what made us successful that first quarter,” Alapag lamented. “I thought their (Converge) physicality went up a notch in that second quarter. It slowed us down, offensively, and I thought we went away from our ball movement.”

They have time to tidy things up before NLEx returns to action on Tuesday against TNT, which Alapag helped turn into a winning franchise during his time with the MVP Group’s flagship team from 2003 to 2015.

TNT was playing San Miguel Beer at press time, hoping to give its coach Chot Reyes a fitting present on the day he turned 62 years old.

“Some of the guys who I played with are still there,” Alapag said, referring to Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams and current assistant coaches Ranidel de Ocampo and Ryan Reyes.

Alapag, however, knows he can’t be too nostalgic once he gets into a coaching duel with Reyes.

“We have a job to do for NLEx, and we’ll get back to work and shift our focus to get ready for Tuesday,” said Alapag. INQ