Alapag returns to PBA, set to lead NLEX after Sacramento Kings stint

John Aldrin Cullat

After bidding farewell to the NBA as a player development coach for the Sacramento Kings, the 14-year PBA veteran is returning to the Philippines as head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors after the team made the appointment official, June 29. 

Bringing three years of player development coaching experience from the NBA, the six-time PBA champion formally inked his contract before NLEX officials, marking a new golden road for the franchise.

The two-time PBA Finals MVP will replace Jong Uichico as NLEX’s head coach, beginning with the PBA Governors’ Cup on July 10.

“The next chapter begins,” Alapag posted on Instagram.

Alapag kickstarted his coaching career with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas, leading the team to the 2018 Asean Basketball League championship in his first season.

His coaching journey then took an international turn when he joined the NBA G-League’s Stockton Kings during the Covid-19 pandemic, a stint that paved the way for a position on the Sacramento Kings’ coaching staff.

Standing at five-foot-nine, Alapag was also known for his clutch plays, particularly during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship semifinals against Korea, where he helped Gilas Pilipinas to the 2014 FIBA World Cup after a 28-year absence.