Grizzled veteran Jimmy Alapag, the former Talk ‘N Text captain who retired in 2015, showed that his comeback last year from retirement was the right decision.
Now, the all-time great is back in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after guiding Meralco Bolts to a clean 3-0 sweep of, ironically, his former team Talk ‘N Text KaTropa in the Governors’ Cup semifinals on Monday night.
The 38-year-old, 5-foot-9 Fil-Am point guard didn’t knock down any three-pointers as he remained two triples shy of matching Allan Caidic’s record of 1,242, but that hardly mattered as Meralco booked a PBA finals berth for the first time since acquiring the Sta. Lucia Realty franchise in 2010.
The Bolts clinched the series by winning Game Four 94-88 and they will next meet in the finals Barangay Ginebra which beat defending champion San Miguel in their own semifinal series battle 3-1.
The way Alapag played in the series, particularly in Games 2 and 3 where he was clearly instrumental in their wins, he was able to show that he still had plenty left in the tank.
It was, however, a bittersweet feeling for Alapag as they had to topple a Texters team where he played his first 12 seasons with after he was made 10th pick in the rookie draft in 2003.
To do so, Alapag and Co. had to beat three consecutive times the top-seeded KaTropa who were the overwhelming favorites coming into the series.
Two years ago, the former Gilas Pilipinas standout officially ended his fabled 12-year playing career and the league paid tribute to him.
In fact, Alapag’s history-coated No. 3 jersey was retired as a long-time Talk ‘N Text team captain during an emotional halftime ceremony of the 2015 PBA All-Star Game at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan. He received his No. 3 jersey encased in a glass frame, never to be used by any Talk ‘N Text player again.
Alapag is already a legend in his own right. He is one of the best point guards and fiercest competitors the league has ever seen.
He won six championships in his career and was the PBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2011, a one-time Best Player of the Conference awardee in the 2011 Commissioner’s Cup, and a member of the PBA’s Top 40 Greatest Players list. He was also a three-time member of the PBA Mythical First team.
He started his PBA career in 2003 and was named the Rookie of the Year. He helped Talk ‘N Text win the All-Filipino Cup title that year.
Alapag is also considered a primary figure in establishing the Philippine national team. He was the skipper of the Gilas Pilipinas that won silver in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
He eventually led the country to its first FIBA Basketball World Cup of Basketball victory in 40 years last year in Spain before announcing his retirement from the national team after Gilas’ stint in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
It was, however, his performance in the FIBA Basketball World Cup where Filipinos will remember him the most. The diminutive playmaker won many hearts due to his inspired showing in the tournament where he stood tall against stronger opponents through his signature three-pointers from way beyond the arc.
Now, Alapag has another golden opportunity to prove that his PBA comeback is for real.