Cheyenne Suarez

PBA: Kevin Alas relishes reunion with coach Jimmy Alapag

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783694892099basket1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag and Kevin Alas. PBA Images</div>MANILA — Kevin Alas is relishing his reunion with coach Jimmy Alapag.Returning to the PBA after his stint in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings as a player development coach, Alapag has been tapped to handle the Road Warriors, and Alas could not be more grateful.The Road Warriors gave Alapag a winning PBA head coaching debut, smashing Macau, 114-75, in the PBA Season 50 Governors&#x27; Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/7/10/nlex-overwhelms-macau-as-alapag-gets-first-win-as-pba-head-coach-2219">READ: NLEX overwhelms Macau as Alapag gets first win as PBA head coach </a></div>Alas and Alapag already had time together in TNT and Gilas Pilipinas.&quot;Rookie year ko, Jimmy was team manager, he was my mentor back then with TNT and Gilas. I&#x27;m just grateful for the opportunity kasi nga pagdating ni coach Jimmy, Day 1, he&#x27;s trying instill culture sa team namin, do things the right way, and at the same time, he&#x27;s giving opportunities to everyone,&quot; said Alas.&quot;I guess, it&#x27;s up to the guys to maximize the opportunity given by coach Jimmy. It&#x27;s gonna be a long season, and we&#x27;re excited and looking forward to what&#x27;s ahead.&quot;But for Alapag, as NLEX notched its biggest win in terms of margin, it was just nice to start the conference on a high note.&quot;It&#x27;s always great to get the first win, &#x27;di ba? Like I said, sobrang layo pa. That&#x27;s what I told the group.&quot;