Alapag’s new life

I remember first interviewing Jimmy Alapag in 2002 as he was trying out for the Philippine team. The tough, explosive, diminutive guard was fighting for his place in the sun. Since then, the Mighty Mouse became a leader and a superstar in the PBA and on the national team. In an exclusive interview with The STAR and PTV Sports, Alapag shared how due to COVID-19’s devastating effects worldwide, he made the tough choice to go back to the US with his young family.

“Without any work opportunities, it was tough,” the 2011 PBA Most Valuable Player recalls. “The ASEAN Basketball League, we lost our season because of the pandemic. Obviously there were no professional sports, whether it was the PBA or the national team. At the end of the day, being a husband and a father to three kids, we had to look at other means of employment.”

With his parents also getting older, Jimmy, the youngest in a brood of six, realized how important it would be for him to be closer to his family. The twin objectives of growing as a coach and being close to his parents (his father just turned 86) would only be served in California.

“One of the biggest adjustments was that the Philippines was home,” Jimmy admits. “My kids were born in Manila. We built so many great relationships, from on the court and off the court. It was tough, for sure. At the end of the day, people have to move forward with their life, whether it’s work or family. It can be difficult, especially with the time difference, to keep in touch as much as we’d like.”

The six-time PBA champion and 11-time PBA All-Star was able to join the coaching staff of the Stockton Kings, the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings in California. Four summers ago, Alapag first spent two months with the organization to further his learning as a coach. His time with coach Bobby Jackson was an eye-opening experience. Jackson had played for six teams in the NBA from 1997 to 2009 and understood how things were run. Even as Jimmy got a head coaching job in the ABL, they stayed in touch. Two years ago, as the Alapags were contemplating the move to America, Jackson mentioned that he would be head coach of Stockton, and offered Jimmy the chance to interview for a spot on the coaching staff.

“It’s been a blessing that it all worked out. I went through the nerve-wracking interview process for the first time,” Jimmy laughs. “It’s amazing that I’ve already finished my first season as an assistant in the G League.”

Last week, Alapag also had the opportunity to be part of Kai Sotto’s workout with the Kings ahead of the NBA Rookie Draft. More on that on Monday.