Add 2021 NBA Summer League champion to Jimmy Alapag’s resume.
Serving as one of Sacramento’s assistant coaches, the cager-turned-mentor helped the Kings rule the off-season tilt at the Boston Celtics’ expense, 100-67, Tuesday night (Wednesday morning Manila time) in Las Vegas.
This was his second Summer League stint. He took on the same role he had in 2019, when he accepted the invitation of the team’s then-VP of basketball operations Vlade Divac to be part of their crew for the annual meet.
The two are members of the FIBA Players’ Commission.
The 43-year-old Alapag was part of head coach Bobby Jackson’s staff, together with former NBA player Doug Christie, ex-WNBA guard Lindsey Harding, Will Scott, Jonah Herscu, Akachi Okugo, and Isaac Yacob.
And together, they would help the young Kings to a five-game sweep of the Las Vegas festivities en route to the crown. Sacramento is the only two-time Summer League champion, previously winning the 2014 edition.
Louis King was named Summer League MVP with a game-best 21 points.
This Summer League title marks yet another achievement for Alapag, who first tasted success as a mentor when he led San Miguel Alab Pilipinas to the 2018 ASEAN Basketball League title. It was his first foray as a head coach.
A winner of six PBA championships as a player, the 2011 MVP has also won titles as an assistant coach in the Filipino pro league. He won the 2019 Philippine Cup and Commissioner Cup crowns with San Miguel Beer.
