Alapag set for PBA return as he joins Meralco

FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--While Jimmy Alapag is busy helping the Philippines' bid to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Talk 'n Text and Meralco made their move in bringing him back to playing.

Both the Tropang Texters and the Bolts, together with the Blackwater Elite, agreed on a trade that will bring the point guard out of retirement and play for the Bolts.

In the said transfer, Meralco will take Alapag in, while Talk 'n Text gets Larry Rodriguez. Blackwater, the conduit team since Meralco and TNT are both under the MVP umbrella, ended up with Mike Cortez and James Sena.

The PBA officially approved the deal on Friday.

Meralco's acquisition of Alapag, who served as TNT's team manager following his brief first retirement, could further push his bid of rejoining Gilas as a player with the national team lacking in point guards.