Jimmy Alapag helps Texters level semis series

PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Acknowledged as Talk ‘N Text’s certified leader, Jimmy Alapag isn’t used to moving behind the scenes.

The reigning Most Valuable Player popped out from the background in Game 6 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal with Petron Blaze and keyed a victory that kept the title-retention bid of the Tropang Texters on track.

Alapag scattered 29 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in the outburst, helping the defending champion force a best-of-seven decider Wednesday and earning for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for Jan. 9 to 15.

“This is still our championship and it’s ours until somebody takes it away,” said Alapag after leading TNT to a 111-108 win that evened up the series for the second and final time.

Plagued by injuries for most of the conference, Alapag wasn’t his usual lethal self in the first four games of the semis before capping a five-point performance in Game 5 with a crucial triple, 44 seconds left.

That shot inspired a rennaissance of sorts for the 5-foot-9 Alapag, whose exploits have pushed TNT to possibly become only the third team in league history to complete a turnaround from a 1-3 series deficit.

“The last two games exemplified his value,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.