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[av_heading heading=’Jimmy Alapag retires from PBA ‘for good’ ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Meralco Bolts veteran guard Jimmy Alapag has once again announced his retirement from basketball, two years after retracting his earlier decision to walk away from the sport for good.
In an announcement made through the YouTube channel of fellow PBA cager Eric Menk on late Thursday, the 38-year-old Alapag said that he won’t be returning for the Bolts in the upcoming PBA season.
“It’s been an amazing 13 years but turning 39 next month and having left everything that I had on the basketball court, it’s time to talk away for good,” the one-time PBA MVP said.
After declaring his decision to retire in 2014, Alapag went back to active duty last year as part of the reserve players of the Gilas Pilipinas and played in the PBA for the Bolts after being traded by the TNT Katropa.
Alapag was successful in leading the Bolts to its first-ever PBA Finals appearance during the just-concluded PBA Governor’s Cup, where his squad lost to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
In his comeback, Alapag also became the league-leader with the most of three-pointers at 1,250 outside baskets erasing the record of former San Miguel Beermen titan Allan Caidic, who had 1,242 triples.
“To be part of the process at the Meralco Bolts of building a team from our struggles in the all-Filipino and steadily improving during the season, was pretty special,” said Alapag.
“Having my four year old (son) and my two year old along for this journey meant everything … Having my son in the locker room, having my son cheering from the stands, you can never have that time back,” he added.
With his retirement from playing in the professional basketball league, Alapag is expected to join as one of the coaching staff of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes./PN
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