Week's Best Player: TnT scrappy guard simply hates to lose

Talk N Text’s diminutive guard Jimmy Alapag loves to take matters into his own hands, especially when the game is on the balance at crunchtime.

That indomitable spirit was evident in the Tropang Texters’ 110-106 victory over the San Miguel Beermen last Sunday, giving the former a 2-1 lead in their Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum.

His 22-point explosion also made Alapag the unanimous choice as the KFC/Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week for the period Jan. 12 to 18. He was also accorded the same honor for the Nov. 24 to 30 week, making him the first player in the season to be so cited twice by the scribes.

Willie Miller and Joe Devance of Alaska, which also leads Sta. Lucia Realty after three games in the other semis duel, have also put up impressive figures, but Alapag earned the nod not only because of his numbers but also his repeated displays of determination.

“I hate to lose and if we are to lose, I just want us to go down fighting,” said the 31-year-old Rookie of the Year in 2003.

The littlest guy on the court showed the biggest heart by pouring in eight of his output in the fourth quarter, including two crucial triples that boosted TNT’s charge to the win in the match that ranks among the best in the tournament in terms of excitement and suspense.

“These are the games he just loves to play,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes of their team captain. “Ayaw talagang magpatalo (He doesn’t want to lose).”

Alapag wound up shooting 6-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and also had three rebounds and as many assists, which approximated his 20 points, four rebounds and seven assists in a 129-100 win in the series opener last Wednesday.

He went into Game 3 with semis averages of 18.5 points (second only to Jay Washington of SMB’s 21.5), 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists a game.