MANILA, Philippines - Standing out on a star-studded team is no mean job. But diminutive Jimmy Alapag continues to upstage his taller, more prolific teammates with his heady plays, helping propel Talk n Text to an automatic semifinals seat in the PBA Fiesta Conference.
“He’s one of the best clutch players today who simply refuses to lose,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes of the 32-year-old Alapag, a vital cog in the team’s impressive surge in the tough stretch capped by a pair of superb games against Alaska and San Miguel Beer.
Those solid performances netted him the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period June 7 to 13.
Alapag was also cited, with new teammate Kelly Williams, for the May 17-23 week. But this time he bested teammate Ranidel de Ocampo (11 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists) by tallying averages of 13 points and 7.0 assists.
The 5-foot-8 product of Cal State-San Bernardino had 15 points and seven assists in an 85-82 decision over SMB last Saturday, following his 11-point and seven-assist effort in a 76-75 squeaker over Alaska.
Against the Aces, Alapag nearly became the goat when he made a turnover in the last 10 seconds. He, however, made sure there would be no such boo-boo against the Beermen.
Before a good weekend crowd at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center, Alapag scored 14 of TnT’s last 16 points. He had seven points, capped by four free throws in the closing seconds, and fed De Ocampo for seven more points in the final five minutes of the match.
The Texters thus clinched an outright berth in the best-of-seven semis as they raised their overall win-loss record to 14-2, while extending the franchise’s record roll and the league’s best streak of the season to 13.
The work is far from done, however. Next up for TnT is B-Meg Derby Ace before winding up the elims against Barako Energy Coffee.
Reyes wants his players to stay sharp as they head for almost a well-earned three-week break while most of the other teams go through the rigors of the wildcard and quarterfinals.
Alapag, for sure, will see to it that he’ll still be in great shape by the time the semis starts.