Alapag gets scribes' nod as PBA Player of the Week

Once again, Jimmy Alapag stood out among the star-studded cast of the streaking Talk N Text Tropang Texters.

The ace playmaker of the Tropang Texters was adjudged as the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period June 7 to 13 as his team racked up back-to-back wins that propelled them to an automatic semifinals seat in the Fiesta Conference.

“One of the best clutch players today who simply refuses to lose," quipped TNT coach Chot Reyes of the 32-year-old Alapag, who was instrumental in the team emerging unscathed from a “killer stretch" capped by tough games against Alaska and San Miguel Beer.

Alapag was also cited along with new teammate Kelly Williams for the May 17-23 week. This time, though, the former national team standout edged out teammate Ranidel de Ocampo (11 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists) by tallying averages of 13 points and 7.0 feeds.

The 5-foot-8 product of Cal State-San Bernardino had 15 points and seven assists in an 85-82 decision over SMB last Saturday, following his 11 and seven in a 76-75 squeaker of Alaska just four days before.

Against the Aces, Alapag almost became the goat by being pressured into a turnover in the last 10 seconds. He made sure there would be no such repeat against the Beermen.

Before a good weekend crowd at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center, the man nicknamed as “Mighty Mouse" left his indelible print by having a hand in 14 of TNT’s last 16 points.

He had seven points, capped by four free throws in the dying seconds, and fed De Ocampo for seven more markers in the final five minutes of the match.

The Texters thus clinched an outright shot at the best-of-seven semis as they jacked their overall win-loss record to 14-2, while extending the franchise’s record roll and the league’s best streak of the season to 13.