Jimmy Alapag will make his head coaching debut in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when the Season 50 Governor's Cup opens on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Alapag leads the NLEX Road Warriors against guest team Macau Giant Pandas in the main game.
Alapag Brings NBA Experience to NLEX
In pre-game interviews, Alapag said he is eager to apply lessons from his nearly six-year stint as a member of the Sacramento Kings coaching staff in the NBA. He worked under coach Mike Brown before Brown moved to the New York Knicks and won an NBA championship.
“I just wanna do my best to uplift the NLEX players. I think as a coach, it’s something that I learned from coach [Mike] Brown during our time together in Sacramento before he moved on to New York and won an NBA championship,” Alapag told ABS-CBN News. “He was all about being positive with the players and really trying to encourage them, uplift them, to allow them to play and perform at their best. That’s one of the things I’m gonna try to implement.”
NLEX Imports and MVP Candidate Bolick
The Road Warriors have brought back former NBA player DeQuan Jones as their import for this conference. Jones previously played for NLEX and showed good chemistry with local players led by Robert Bolick, who is a top candidate for the 2025-26 PBA MVP award. Bolick is expected to be a key player for NLEX in the Governors' Cup.
Macau Giant Pandas Seek Redemption
Macau Giant Pandas aim to bounce back from a disappointing campaign in the previous Commissioner's Cup, where they were eliminated after the elimination round with a 3-9 record. To improve, they have acquired a new and exciting import: De'Vondre Perry, a 27-year-old product of Temple University Owls, who played in NCAA Division I in the United States.
Opening Game: Terrafirma vs Titan Ultra
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Terrafirma Dyip will face the Titan Ultra Giant Risers at 5:15 PM. The NLEX vs Macau match follows at 7:30 PM.
