Alapag off to hot start

MANILA, Philippines — Jimmy Alapag had a winning debut as an assistant coach in the NBA G League as the Stockton Kings clipped the Santa Cruz Warriors, 122-97, yesterday at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in California.

Louis King led the way with 33 points while Neemias Queta (24 points) and Jahmi’us Ramsey (21) threw in help, gifting Alapag and the whole team a triumphant G League season opener under the watch of head coach Bobby Jackson.

The Philippine basketball legend was hired by the Kings front office last August to be part of its G League staff after helping Jackson cap off a perfect NBA Summer League championship.

Will Scott and Akachi Okugo have also been included in the Jackson staff to beef up the title bid of Stockton, an affiliate squad of NBA franchise Sacramento Kings.

Stockton collides anew with Santa Cruz today in a back-to-back weekend opening schedule for the Kings.

Alapag last year left the Philippines to pursue a coaching opportunity in the United States after deputy stints with Meralco, San Miguel Beer and Gilas Pilipinas.

The former Gilas captain and PBA MVP also served as head coach for Alab Pilipinas, steering the squad to the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) championship in 2018.