THE coaching journey of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend and former Gilas Pilipinas player Jimmy Alapag took another significant turn after he was named an assistant of NBA G League team Stockton Kings on Tuesday.
Mr. Alapag, 43, will be serving as assistant to former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Bobby Jackson in the Stockton team, the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
“Words can’t express how thankful I am for the opportunity to join the Stockton Kings for the upcoming NBA G League season!” Mr. Alapag posted on Instagram after the announcement was made.
He went on to thank Mr. Jackson and other team officials for “believing in me and giving me this chance.”
Mr. Alapag was part of the coaching staff of the Sacramento Kings in their championship conquest in the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Cal State-San Bernardino alumnus Mr. Alapag played 14 seasons in the PBA, earning six championships, one league most valuable player award (2011), two PBA Finals MVP awards and 11 stints in the All-Star Game.
After his playing career, he became part of the coaching staff of the Meralco Bolts then became the head coach of the San Miguel Alab team which won the ASEAN Basketball League title in 2018. Later on, he became an assistant with the San Miguel Beermen.
He also had stints in the coaching staff of Gilas Pilipinas and in 2020 went back to the United States with his family to seek a coaching job in the NBA, finally hooking up with the Sacramento Kings in the Summer League. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
