Alapag honors Gilas duty, returns to Taiwan after son's birthday

TAIPEI – After a day trip home to attend the birthday of his son, Jimmy Alapag, as promised, flew back here when he could’ve just stayed in Manila with his slight injury, underscoring his commitment with the national team.

Still nursing an injured quad two weeks before the FIBA Asia Championship, Alapag said he’ll get a better picture of his readiness for the Asian joust on their return home today.

“We’ll all know after this tournament. I’ll probably have to sit and talk to coach, and see where my body is at,” said Alapag, returning from retirement to be the third point guard on the Gilas pool on the non-availability of Paul Lee and LA Tenorio.

“I’ll undergo therapy and have my injury looked at by the doctors. We’ll see but it’s really so bad a timing (to have this injury),” Alapag also said.

On Friday night, he left his hotel here and took the first flight out to be able to attend the party of his son Saturday from 3-5 p.m. Afterwards, he rushed back to the airport and was back in his hotel room here at 1 a.m. yesterday.

“I was at the Taipei airport at 10 p.m. (Saturday) but I took a cab that brought me to a different Chateau de Chine (hotel). It was past 12 midnight when I got to my hotel,” said Alapag.

Though injured and able to play just a few minutes in games against Korea and Russia, Alapag was a big help here with his influence and leadership.