Sacramento Kings player development coach Jimmy Alapag said the Philippines is closer than ever to having its own player in the NBA. The talent, the skill, the desire, the best Filipino players have them, he said.
But it will take more than these personal attributes for that Filipino player to survive the toughest league in the world. Perhaps when that happens, that would be the easy part. The most challenging would be staying there, said Alapag.
Alapag, who played for many years with Gilas Pilipinas and with TNT and Meralco before retiring, joined the Sacramento Kings’ staff three years ago and his current role makes him an authority on the matter.
Alapag has become the center of conversation following the failure of Kevin Quiambao, the former UAAP MVP and La Salle star, to play in the NBA’s Summer League with the Kings which many thought would happen with Alapag expected by some fans to push the buttons to ease his entry into Sacramento’s lineup.
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It turned out Quiambao arrived too late at the Kings’ camp and because there was also a lack of communication between the player’s handlers and Alapag regarding their plan to try out for a spot in Sacramento’s lineup, Quiambao was left holding an empty bag. He arrived in the US with the Kings’ Summer League lineup already filled.
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Alapag, however, confidently concluded that the time is near when a Filipino player makes it to the NBA, although it somehow bedevils the imagination that for a country known to have basketball for breakfast until dinner, no Filipino has come near to ever closing the deal.
But when the time comes that one makes it, that’s when the whole thing becomes a challenge, said Alapag during his interview with Noli Eala in the Power and Play program.
Alapag said, skills-wise, there is no doubt in his mind that Filipino players are at par with the best in the world. But for that Filipino to make it, he has to have the work ethic and discipline of the NBA player in order to hone his talent.
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The 47-year-old Alapag is referring to skills training, strength and conditioning and nutrition that each player goes through practically all year round.
“I do think, you look at the talent back home in the PBA, the Gilas players, and even the young talents, the Filipinos that are playing abroad, your Ray Parks, your Kiefer Ravena, there’s so much talent in the Philippines. And I honestly, I really truly believe this. I do think we’re close,” said Alapag.
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He said NBA players are the best for a reason. “Their discipline together with their talent and their work ethic is second to none. It’s not just on the court.”
“You look at the NBA now and it’s something that I’ve really learned and got a much, much better understanding of. Our guys come in every day and they get their work done in the weights room. They get their work done with our PTs and trainers and making sure that their bodies are as healthy as they can possibly be with the food that they eat offseason, during the regular season.
“And then you still have your work on the court. Whether it’s the guards or it’s the wing players or it’s the big man. Everybody is doing something that will help strengthen their game, help improve their game and help improve the team in preparation for the season.
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“Again, I truly believe in my heart that we will have a local Filipino [in the NBA] soon. But I do think that whoever that special talent will be, again, his focus, his work ethic on top of the talent have to be at its highest level to get an opportunity in the NBA,” said Alapag.
Then Alapag laid down what he believed will be the toughest part for a Filipino to endure once he becomes of the NBA. Alapag said that person will also have to be strong enough to deal with all the intense pressure around getting that very first distinction of being the first NBA player to come out of the Philippines.
“Because whoever that young talent is will be the first,” Alapag said. “And there will be so much responsibility on that young player to not only handle the pressure of being the first local or first pure Filipino to be in the NBA, but even with that pressure, still be able to go out there in Summer League, in training camp and hopefully during an NBA regular season and go out there and still perform.”
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