ANTIPOLO — Jimmy Alapag began his PBA head coaching career with a bang after steering NLEX to a 114-75 beatdown of guest team Macau for a triumphant Season 50 Governors’ Cup debut at the Ynares Center here, Friday night.
Revitalized with the ‘Mighty Mouse’ manning their sidelines, the Road Warriors broke the game wide open with a 36-point explosion in the third quarter for an 81-58 lead, eventually giving their new mentor the warmest of welcomes.
“It’s almost like going home after your first day of school. We had a good first day. But malayo pa,” offered the former league Most Valuable Player.
“Still a lot of work to be done. I’ve been here nine, ten days. Really happy with the group. I just love their competitive spirit, their selflessness,” he added.
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A quintet of players finished in double figures in the victory, with returning import DeQuan Jones leading the way with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Kevin Alas poured 19 points to lead the bench mob and snag Player of the Game honors. LJ Gonzales supplied 13 points, JB Bahio flirted with a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Deschon Winston added 10.
Lead guard Robert Bolick only had nine points, but collected six rebounds and eight assists for an all-around effort. He helped orchestrate the offense, playing a major role behind NLEX, finishing with 30 assists.
That conscious effort to move the ball also enabled the crew to post their largest winning margin in franchise history, per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
“We had 30 assists and to have that many assists in your first game, I think that’s just a foundation that we can build on going forward,” Alapag said.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Road Warriors, though. They return to action this Sunday, July 12, against another team that’s coming off a win in Terrafirma, at the faraway Ynares Center II in Montalban, Rizal.
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Damian Chongqui, on the other hand, poured 35 points on top of three rebounds and three assists against six turnovers for the Giant Pandas.
De’Vondre Perry was the only other player in double figures for the visiting outfit with 26 points alongside 15 rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
Macau will now brace for another contender ahead as it takes on George King and the debuting San Miguel Beer on Tuesday, July 14, also in Antipolo.
The Scores:
NLEX 114 – Jones 23, Alas 19, Gonzales 13, Bahio 11, Winston 10, Bolick 9, Ramirez 6, Torres 6, Gamboa 5, Valdez 5, Capulong 4, Nieto 3, Herndon 0, Racal 0, Rodger 0, Semerad 0.
Macau 75 – Chongqui 35, Perry 26, Cao 4, Liu 4, Lam 4, Li 2, Y. Zhang 0, Chao 0, Z. Zhang 0, Zhu 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 45-36, 81-58, 114-75.
