Alapag: Bolts want more than just top two
Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Meralco needed someone to turn to and Jimmy Alapag delivered.
Alapag had a throwback performance on Friday night — saving the Bolts from the Alaska Aces and leading them to a top two finish.
“It felt good to come through for the team,” Alapag said after Meralco eked out a 107-101 win over Alaska. “I’m just happy that I was able to make some plays down the stretch to get us a big win.”
The 38-year-old point guard scored seven of the Bolts’ last nine points inside the final two minutes.
He wound up with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line.
Owning the league’s best record at 8-2, the Bolts have come a long way since its horrible 1-10 showing last conference. They’ve already put that disastrous stint behind, but for Alapag, it has served as a constant reminder for the team to keep on striving.
“I keep thinking about last conference. When you struggle like that, when you’re humbled like that, there’s nothing you can do but to come back and refocus and get back to work,” he said. “It’s a credit for the coaching staff coming back this conference with a better focus and push each other in practice.”
“Tonight, our team grew up a little bit more.”
Meralco completed one of its goals by clinching a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals, but the real challenge is yet to come.
“It’s big for us,” he said. “Coach mentioned in the locker room that this is the first time Meralco has been in a position where we’re twice-to-beat. But there’s still more to do. I told the guys after the game that the journey isn’t done yet. We’re still in a process of developing a culture where the team gets used to winning, and that takes time.”
Meralco will look to cap off this dream stretch in its game against Ginebra on Wednesday.
“We’re happy with this win, but we have a big game on Wednesday and ever since our game against Mahindra, we’re in playoff mode,” Alapag said.
“With a new team like this, you don’t just go to the playoffs and turn it on. That process for us starts now. It was a very maturing win for us tonight and hopefully, we’ll build on it come the playoffs.”
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