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| Jimmy Alapag shakes hands with team owner Manny Pangilinan as the former becomes the new NLEX head coach. NLEX Road Warriors |
MANILA—NLEX is heading in a new direction as it has named Jimmy Alapag as its new head coach for the PBA Governors' Cup.
The Road Warriors announced on Monday night that Alapag will replace Jong Uichico as their chief tactician.
"This move is about strengthening the program, combining fresh perspectives with continuity, and giving ourselves the best opportunity to achieve our goal of becoming a championship-caliber team," NLEX said in a statement.
This will be Alapag's first head coaching stint in the PBA, but the San Bernardino, California native will be bringing along the lessons he got from Sacramento as part of the Kings' coaching staff in both the NBA and their G League affiliates, the Stockton Kings.
"Coach Jimmy brings valuable experience from an NBA organization, a strong basketball philosophy, and a player-centered approach that we believe can help elevate the team to the next level," the Road Warriors further said.
He already did some head coaching stints before, as he led Alab Pilipinas from 2017-2020, winning the 2018 ABL championship.
Alapag was also part of San Miguel's coaching staff during its 2019 title double.
Alapag's NLEX debut will happen right on Day 1 of the PBA Governors' Cup on July 10 against Macau at the Ynares Center 1 in Antipolo.
The Road Warriors are eyeing payback after blowing the top seed in the Commissioner's Cup and falling to eighth-seeded TNT Tropang 5G, coincidentally Alapag's former team as a player, in the quarterfinals.
