Jimmy Alapag hopes that his NBA Summer League stints would eventually lead to Filipino talents being given the opportunity to showcase their game in the annual off-season tilt organized by the world’s premier basketball league.
The PBA great recently reprised his role as an assistant coach for Sacramento in the Las Vegas meet. And he proved how effective he can be in helping mentor future stars as the Kings went on to rule the tournament via sweep.
Though he showed the potential of Filipino coaches in such a highly competitive environment, the 43-year-old could not wait for the day when players from this hoop-crazy nation are the ones making a mark in the Summer League.
“I hope that my presence in the Summer League continues to be kind of a platform for Filipino players. Obviously I don’t play anymore, but hopefully it blazes a trail for them to get that opportunity soon,” he told Power and Play.
So far, only one Filipino-born player has experienced playing in the Summer League. Ray Parks, Jr. did so in 2015, thanks to an invitation by the Dallas Mavericks after going undrafted in the NBA Draft of that same year.
The eventual no. 2 pick of the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft saw action for six games and averaged 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.5 minutes of play.
It has been a while since a local has made it that far. Alapag, though, insisted that Filipino talent isn’t far behind from making it to the Summer League.
“No, absolutely not,” the former Gilas Pilipinas captain told the program hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.
“I think we’re right on track.”
Philippine basketball is undeniably on track to reach a wider global audience — and, hopefully, by NBA talent scouts — with an influx of players taking their acts overseas since last year.
It began in April when FEU forward Ken Tuffin joined the Wellington Saints in New Zealand’s NBL, followed by Thirdy Ravena’s signing with San-en NeoPhoenix in the Japan B.League a few months later.
Ravena signing under the league’s Asian Player Quota ruling blazed a trail for many more local cagers to play there. And that includes his own brother Kiefer, who will join the Shiga Lakestars for the 2021-22 season.
Others who have also taken their talents in the Land of the Rising Sun are Gomez de Liaño brothers Juan and Javi, and also Kemark Cariño.
“I think it’s great for Philippine basketball that some of these younger players are getting an opportunity to showcase their talents abroad,” Alapag said. “At the end of the day, no matter where they play, they’re still representing the country.
“And I think that’s something we should embrace. And I think those kids should understand that huge responsibility comes with that because you’re representing a country that has such a huge, huge passion for the game.”
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