Alapag named PBAPC Player of the Week

Talk N Text may be loaded in terms of talent, but when push comes to shove, expect Jimmy Alapag to take charge. The smallest man among the Tropang Texters provided the biggest basket for his squad over the week, enough for him to become the Accel-PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week awardee for the period Nov. 22-28. Alapag came up with 33 points and 10 assists in TNT’s 106-102 victory over Barako Bull. He laced that performance with a steal and unloaded one of his four triples in the endgame that gave his team the win. His number of assists in the team's victory over the Energy Boosters gave him his first double-double in the young season. “I’m proud of how Jimmy played," said Nash Racela, who called the shots for the second straight game in lieu of coach Chot Reyes. Reyes, the fiery, former national team mentor, was loaned to the PHL-Smart Gilas Team for the Guangzhou Asian Games to assist Rajko Toroman. “Binuhat n’ya ‘yung team nu’ng nag-i-struggle kami. He always stays positive despite our struggles during games. It only shows how good a leader he is and how valuable he is to this team," he added. The playmaker nicknamed “Mighty Mouse" went into the game averaging just 14.9 points and 5.1 assists. He came up with his most productive game, the most since he scored a career-best 39 in a 102-108 Christmas Day loss to Barangay Ginebra in 2004. With the way the 32-year-old, former Rookie of the Year is playing, the Tropang Texters have no reason to be worried. The Tropang Texters picked up their seventh win in 10 games, keeping them on track for a Top Two finish in the 14-game eliminations and a twice-to-beat advantage in the ensuing quarterfinals. Once the playoffs come, Ranidel de Ocampo is expected to have fully recovered from his off-season foot surgeries and join the star-studded frontline that includes Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey and Ali Peek. Guards Ryan Reyes, Jared Dillinger and Jason Castro, who have contributed in some of the team’s victories, are also expected to play key roles. Still, don’t be surprised to see Alapag preserving his best for the tough grind. - RCJ, GMANews.TV