When Jimmy Alapag flew in to the shores of Manila to play for the 2002 National Team as a then unknown from NCAA Division 2 California State, people were skeptic with him playing behind veteran Olsen Racela before injuring himself in the team's first few exhibition games.
Unfair as it is, much is expected of Fil-Americans and the burden placed on Alapag was no different. The PBA was still in its "Fil-foreign explosion" phase-- wherein local stars were quickly being relegated to back-ups so you can see why having an NCAA-Division II player, playing BEHIND a local who wasn't even considered the best at his position (Johnny Abarrientos fell from grace at the time, but was still arguably better than Racela. Ronnie Magsanoc and Boyet Fernandez were also around at the time) wasn't the best thing for young Jimmy.
Once the 2002 games in Busan, South Korea was over, Alapag was able to set his sights on the PBA Draft where he would be picked behind now forgotten names like Mike Cortez (who was then considered as the *controversial* premier point guard from the amateurs), Rommel Adducul and even Mobiline/ Talk N Text teammate Harvey Carey.
All this "downfall" for a guy who was handpicked by legendary champion coach Ron Jacobs.
From the start, Alapag would create a huge stir in the PBA as he slowly took over as the league's best point guard with the aging Abarrientos slowly fading into the limelight, and "people's champ" Olsen Racela not putting up much of a battle (really now, I love Racela's all-heart game, but he's not on the same plateau skills-wise as Abarrientos, Magsanoc, Alapag or even a Dindo Pumaren. Jayjay Helterbrand is an SG masquerading as a PG.)
He led his team to a title his rookie year and eventually won the season's Top Rookie honors. This was followed by a stellar career unmatched in the PBA with averages of 13 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds which is borderline "Hall of Fame-ish." Not to mention that Alapag can just as easily light up the scoreboard whenever he sees fit (which he did early in his career whenever then teammate Asi Taulava would coast through games).
He would also be a part of the 2005 and 2007 National Teams and quickly earned the respect and trust not only of the Philippine basketball community but of Asia as well. Lebanese phenom Fadi El Khatib (who was invited to a private work-out with Michael Jordan, Ray Allen and Michael Finley to name a few and show just how good this guy is) went as far as to say that Alapag is Asia's best PG hands down. That's how good he is.
Then, in 2009, Alapag was surprisingly dropped from the National Team roster coached by temperamental Yeng Guiao who opted for an inch or two taller guards in Jayjay Helterbrand and Ryan Reyes (both of whom weren't able to play as effectively in the FIBA tournament since they were injured). When news of Helterbrand and Reyes' injuries came out, Guiao again opted to play natural SG Willie Miller at the PG and bring in defensive stalwart Wyne Arboleda into the fray.
It was easy to take Alapag for granted that year though, as Helterbrand was playing absurd basketball on offense (by pretty much being given the green light on offense with his high scoring buddy Mark Caguioa being sidelined all season) while the man known as the "Mighty Mouse" was doing his usual schtick and posting his norms across the boards.
This led some people to believe that yes, maybe Alapag's time has passed and that his height may keep the National Team down. Guiao and those who chose to believe that notion couldn't have been any more wrong. The National Team was soft, gutless and timid on both ends, and it was quite obvious that Miller couldn't carry the PG load or orchestrate any plays other than isolations for himself.
Once that was over, Alapag continued to play the way he always does-- intense. TNT continued to be a contender, winning it all even, and is currently leading TNT's Grand Slam bid in the on going Governor's Cup Finals.
Now 34, Alapag almost never got the MVP title to cement his legacy alongside other PG greats. And we, as fans, would've been robbed of seeing his greatness being recognized.
Fortunately for all of us, it happened.
Congratulations to the PBA MVP, Jimmy Alapag!
HE ONLY WON THE MVP BECAUSE OF MEDIA VOTES...HE DOESN'T DESERVE THE MVP..ARWIND SANTOS SHOULD BE..IT'S VERY OBVIOUS WHAT MEDIA VOTING CAN DO TO...JUST THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO RAMON FERNANDEZ AND MARK CAGUIOA WHEN PARAS AND JAMES YAP WON THE MVP...MEDIA VOTING SUCKS!!!
ReplyDeleteSantos has been robbed of his MVP award the last two years, while Caguioa still hasn't learned that it's his poor attitude towards the media and PBA fans (not just Ginebra die hards) that keeps him from winning it all. Alapag's advantage over both players?
ReplyDeleteTwo titles this 2011 plus the possibility of adding one more.
this is so disappointing, really.
ReplyDeletelooking at the final tally of points, santos was leading the mvp race until the votes from media came in. the numbers are deceiving. just by looking at it, people would think that alapag really won by miles (201 points). mathematically speaking, he just won by a very small margin. The votes coming from the media dictated the outcome. santos got the stats, players and commissioners votes, but not the media. so does alapag really deserve it? i guess not.
this issue boils down to one thing, the criteria. i can't understand why is the importance of statistical points same with that of the media votes (both 30%)? it seems like a media vote is equal to a rebound or a steal or an assist or a game point. do they both give justice to the player's capabilities, performance, and talent? which is quantitative or qualitative? which is subjective or objective? which is fair and which is not? the criteria must be changed to be fair... to the fans and most especially to the players.
Sa totoo lang, Jason Castro ang nagdadala sa TNT.
ReplyDelete