Jimmy Alapag retires from PBA ‘for good’

MANILA, Philippines – Jimmy Alapag, one of the PBA’s 40 Greatest Players, announced his retirement from the Philippine Basketball Association for a second time on the YouTube channel of Eric Menk on Thursday, November 3.

Alapag, who previously retired in January 2015 before returning to the league with a new team in the Meralco Bolts, said that this time, he’s retiring from the game “for good.”

“I’m here to announce that I won’t be coming back for the upcoming PBA season. It’s been an amazing 13 years, but turning 39 next month and having left everything I have on the basketball court, it’s time to walk away for good.”

Alapag’s retirement comes on the heels of Meralco’s Governors’ Cup Finals defeat to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 6 games, during which Alapag showed he could still play in the PBA at the highest level. 

In Game 2 of the series, Alapag broke Allan Caidic’s record for the most 3-pointers made in PBA history. For the series, the man who was called “The Mighty Mouse” averaged 8.3 points and 3.8 assists a contest.

Throughout his 13-year career, the 5-foot-9 point guard averaged 12.1 points and 5.7 assists a game. He went on to win 6 PBA championships – all with the Talk ‘N Text franchise – and was also league Rookie of the Year in 2003, named league MVP in 2011, and made 11 All-Star teams.

Alapag was also popular for his role with the Gilas national team, specifically his performance in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila where the Philippines won silver, and in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain where Gilas won a game against Senegal. – Rappler.com