It’s hard to forget that time when Kelly Nabong and Jimmy Alapag got into a heated altercation back in 2017 during their time with Meralco, when the Bolts were facing the Star Hotshots in the Governors’ Cup semifinals.
The Bolts suspended the 6-foot-6 forward-center indefinitely following the incident, until they released him to free agency. GlobalPort Batang Pier then signed Nabong, but shipped him to the San Miguel Beermen a little later.
Alapag, on the other hand, stayed as one of Norman Black’s deputies, until he decided to leave the MVP-owned organization to fully focus on his head coaching duties with Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
But, as they say, it is a small world.
Over a year since the incident, Alapag and Nabong are reunited, as the former has just joined the Beermen as one of its assistant coaches. Alapag joined SMB in their practice on Thursday morning in Acropolis.
It may seem awkward that they’re under one umbrella again, but Nabong clarified that there aren’t any issues whatsoever.
“It never hit a road bump. That was just two teammates in the playoffs butting heads a little bit. I mean, it was water under the bridge as soon as the game was over with. Everybody else, the media, blew it out of proportion,” said the 30-year-old from Sacramento.
“I mean, we were always cool. I mean, he’s always been my cap, he’s always been my team captain, always.”
Aside from Alapag, Nabong has also been reunited with Terrence Romeo, as they shared some time together at GlobalPort. Romeo also arrived to the Beermen’s sessions on the same day the PBA legend came along.
“It feels good. I mean, it’s gonna be an exciting conference. I mean, we got Jimmy coming in. He got a lot of experience in winning and with players, and Terrence, I mean, his name speaks for himself, superstar, loves to score.
“And I think both of them would be a good fit on this team,” he said.
As for Nabong himself, the upcoming 2019 Philippine Cup will be his first with the Beermen. He has a chance to be part of SMB’s historic drive for five straight all-Filipino titles, and that has the incoming seven-year pro excited.
“I’m very excited and you know, everybody else gotta dethrone us,” he said.
“I love it, I love it. It’s gonna be my first championship. I love it. I love to be part of the team to make that run and more. And more. And more. A lot more.”
