Runner-up finishers Meralco Bolts. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Though missing out on a chance to win the championship hurts, Jimmy Alapag could not be more proud with Meralco’s performance in the epic 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Ginebra.
“I’m proud. I don’t even think proud does that justice. Saying our guys come in the gym and be there early and stay late, that’s what it’s all about,” he said on Wednesday following the Bolts’ 91-88 Game 6 heartbreak.
While it would’ve been great to bring home the crown to wrap up his comeback season, the former league Most Valuable Player said that seeing the Bolts grow through the course of the year is already a blessing for the team moving forward.
“Coming out of retirement and finishing last place for the first time in my PBA career, it was something I didn’t anticipate and something that was humbling for all guys in our locker room,” he said, looking back on Meralco’s dismal run in the Philippine Cup. “Our team has been resilient the entire year. It’s not easy to finish 1-10. It’s embarrassing and it humbles you. It’s something where you either give up or pick yourself back up and keep fighting and keep pushing.”
And instead of settling at the bottom, the Bolts completed a stunning transformation from cellar-dwellers to a worthy championship contender in just one season.
“The guys, to their credit, pushed us hard in practice. Credit to coach Norman (Black) and our staff and our guys for just re-dedicating themselves to the season and finding a way to climb out of that, giving ourselves a chance in the second conference to get to the semis and almost to the Finals, and getting an experience like this for a lot of our guys like (Chris) Newsome and Baser (Amer), to be in a war like this Finals, that experience is invaluable.”
Now that jitters from the first run to the title round are behind them, Alapag is hopeful that Meralco can build on the experience to remain a threat each conference.
“For a lot of our guys to have this Finals experience for the first time, hopefully when you get a taste of it, you work even harder to get back,” he said.
“Hopefully, this season will be the foundation for this team moving forward. Being last, getting to the semis, and now getting to the Finals, hopefully, this would be something the team can build on moving forward. Hopefully, we’ll have the consistency year-in and year-out to get to the championship.”
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