Lumaki si Jimmy Alapag sa Amerika, subalit di nalimutan ang kanyang mga ugat, at bumalik dito upang makipagsapalaran bilang basketbolista noong 2002. Ang mga magulang pa niya ang nagbigay ng lakas ng loob para mangahas.
At napakarami niyang pinagdaanang paghihirap bago dumating ang tagumpay. Wala siyang kilala, at wala siyang tirahan o kotse. Pero nagpursigi siya.
"Luckily, when I came here, I was with the national pool in 2002," bungad ng Talk N Text point guard. "A lot of the veteran guys who were on that team really looked out for me. ‘Cause I really didn’t know my way around, didn’t know anybody. They really welcomed me with open arms."
Di siya nakasali sa national team agad dahil naantala ang kanyang mga papeles. Sa una niyang laro - na sa Bataan pa dinaos - nadisgrasya siya.
"There have been some pretty low points in my life, but that was tough," salaysay ni Alapag. "Considering everything that had happened up to that point. I was so excited getting an opportunity to play. Here I was, Coach Jong (Uichico, then head coach of the RP team) was giving me a start. I’ll never forget that. I’d been waiting three or four months, and finally, got to be out there with the guys. And five minutes into the game, I break my hand. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. But then, that experience taught me a lot about myself."
Pero naroroon pa rin ang pamilya niyang nasasandalan.
"I had a lot of support. I spoke to my family back home all the time," paliwanag niya. "They were positive about everything all the time, telling me to just stick with it, and things would find a way to work themselves out."
At dahil sa tiyaga at tulong ng kanyang pamilya, nakuha na ni Jimmy ang lahat ng pinangarap niya.
"Oh, without a doubt," agad niyang sagot. "Every day I step onto the court, every day at practice is a blessing. It’s an honor for me to be here. I’ve been fortunate to play in two finals in my first four confe-rences here. And each time, my parents have been here to watch the finals. That meant more to me than anything. I can look into the stands and see them smiling and know that they’re proud of their son. Just to see how happy they were, it meant a lot."
Para kay Jeff Cariaso naman, pamilya at basketbol lamang ang may puwang sa kanyang puso. Pati paborito niyang pagkain (sinigang), kanta ("On the Wings of Love"), at maging mga lugar na gusto niyang puntahan (Europe) ay may kinalaman sa kanyang pamilya.
"If I’m not on the court, I’m with my family," salaysay ni Cariaso. "Those are the two things that take up most of my time. Playing basketball makes me happy, but spending time with my wife and my kids is something I can’t compare anything else to. If I see them hurt, or I see them sad, if I see them disappointed, that makes me sad. I’m all out for my family. I’ll do anything for them, any time, anywhere."
At pag tinanong siya kung ano ang pinakamahalagang bagay sa buhay niya, hindi materyal ang sagot niya.
"My most prized possession would have to be my relationship with my family," patuloy ng Alaska Aces guard. "It’s something that’s not perfect, and I admit that, but it’s something that you have to work on. I love the ups and downs. It’s an adventure every day. My biggest frustration is the fact that my Mom passed away before I got married, so my Mom never got to meet my wife and my kids."
Saan man sila naroroon, sigurado tayong nakangiti sa tuwa ang mga ina nina Jimmy Alapag at Jeff Cariaso.