MANILA, Philippines - Diminutive Jimmy Alapag came up big again last Friday, leading Talk n Text to a key win in the PBA Philippine Cup and bagging the Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week award.
The TnT spitfire unloaded 33 points, highlighted by four triples, and completed a double-double job with 10 assists, steering the Texters to a 106-102 victory over the surprisingly tough Barako Bull side.
“I’m proud of how Jimmy played,” said Nash Racela, who took over the job from head coach Chot Reyes.
“He lifted the team when they struggled. He always stays positive despite our struggles during games. It only shows how good a leader he is and how valuable he is to this team,” he added.
The playmaker nicknamed “Mighty Mouse” went into the game averaging just 14.9 points and 5.1 assists and wound up with his most points in a game since a career-best 39 in a 102-108 Christmas Day loss to Barangay Ginebra in 2004.
There’s no reason to expect the 32-year-old Rookie of the Year in 2003 is going to slow down.
The win was TnT’s seventh in 10 games, keeping it on track for a top two finish in the 14-game eliminations and a twice-to-beat advantage in the ensuing quarterfinals.
When the playoffs come, Ranidel de Ocampo is expected to have fully recovered from his off-season feet surgeries and alternating with fellow do-it-all forward Kelly Williams. Ryan Reyes, Harvey Carey, Jared Dillinger and Jason Castro are also projected to play crucial roles.
Still, and for sure, it would be Alapag showing the way for the Texters.