Encore

#ThankYouJimmy

We could hear the trumpets blasting with the soulful musings of one Shawn Corey Carter spreading what is as close to ghetto gospel as possible on the microphone:

Now can I get an encore, do you want more/
Cookin’ raw with the Brooklyn Pinoy boy/
So for one last time I need y'all to roar/

Now what the hell are you waitin for/
After me, there shall be no more/
So for one last time, nigga Pinas make some noise/

Come next PBA season when the Meralco Bolts take the floor, they will no longer introduce one of our beloved players. The team will be playing minus 11-time PBA All Star, 1x PBA MVP, 6x champion and more importantly, Gilas captain, Jimmy Alapag who has chosen to retire after “unretiring” last January 2015.


Some people ignorantly threw low-key shade at Alapag, for his “second” retirement. But we understood how hard it was for a player, despite the age (he will turn 39 next month), to just let go of something has has lovingly treasured all of his life. Specially if he is coming off Grade A performances with the national team tournament after tournament.

As a basketball fan, we wanted an encore. It wasn’t as if we were asking a broken player who was obviously just a shell of his former self to keep on going. No, we saw that he still had it, so why not run with it?

For. One. Last. Time.

We understood how there was no room for Alapag at TNT Katropa, not with Jayson Castro embracing his prime. He would’ve been a valuable asset, yes, but it would’ve been a waste to just have Alapag sit on the bench and watch.  When he moved to the Bolts to play for Coach Norman Black, we expected a lot.

What we didn’t know or fully comprehend at the time, was that it would also take a lot out of Alapag. The Philippine Cup campaign, wherein the team went a disastrous 1-11, was painful to watch altogether. Alapag, ever the good soldier and leader, tried his best to make believers out of his teammates. But there was obviously a gap not only in talent, but in IQ when you compare TNT and the Bolts.

So together with Coach Norman, Alapag kept on pushing and playing—more than he probably had to, just to ensure that guys would buy into the program. It delayed young Baser Amer’s development somewhat, but it also allowed him a front row seat in what it takes to be an elite PBA point guard. By the time the Commissioner’s Cup finished, the Bolts were suddenly back in the middle of the fight, with everyone filling and playing specific roles.

It was a great season for Alapag the basketball player. He was able to help turn things around for the Bolts, literally starting from the bottom (1-11) before making it to the PBA Governor’s Cup Finals where they fell short (owing to injuries and lack of firepower) to erstwhile champs, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. You could even argue that maybe the series would’ve gone longer, or maybe ended differently, had Alapag not been injured in the final games.

But that was probably the floor director signaling the artist to wrap it up and send the fans home.
That was probably Father Time telling Alapag that the show’s about to close.

Just being able to lead a young team and introduce a “winning culture” in itself is a huge accomplishment. Taking them to the Finals and showing that Coach Norman’s system works; is icing on the cake.

Breaking a PBA record and surpassing a legend in Allan Caidic for most three point shots made? Historic.

For one last time, we need you all to ROAR.

#ThankYouJimmy