Baldwin: Alapag asked to be left off Gilas coaching staff

Jimmy Alapag misses the Gilas Pilipinas final 12 as he continues to recover from injury. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jimmy Alapag has been a staple of the Philippine National Team even before the Gilas program was formed, but for the 5-foot-7 guard won’t be making an appearance in the Fiba Asia Championsip neither as a player, nor as a coach.

Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin said Alapag asked to be left off of the coaching staff as he would be back on the parquet floor playing for Meralco.

“His preference right now, and we’re gonna honor that we’re gonna discuss it some more, but his preference since he’ll be playing in the league he doesn’t feel it’s appropriate, I may or may not agree with him but he doesn’t feel it’s appropriate to be coaching guys he may be competing against on the floor,” Baldwin said Wednesday at the Meralco Gym.

“So that’s a new development for me.”

Alapag last played with Gilas for the 2015 Jones Cup despite retiring from the PBA.

For the 2015-2016 season, however, Alapag will come out of retirement to play for the Meralco Bolts.

Baldwin wanted to put Alapag as part of his coaching staff but the Talk N’ Text icon asked not to be.

“The intention was, because of his injury he can’t make the squad, so the intention was to bring him back in, there’s some sense in what he’s saying for sure,” Baldwin said. “I just think Jimmy’s an important part of the Gilas program and we wanna make some avenue for him to help out with his experience and his credibility because it’s extraordinary.”