Jimmy Alapag has collected championships, MVP awards, and unforgettable victories throughout his basketball career.
But Tuesday night offered something entirely different.
For the first time since becoming a PBA head coach, Alapag found himself standing across the sideline from the man who helped shape him into one of Philippine basketball’s greatest point guards—Chot Reyes.
The result was another milestone in Alapag’s remarkable coaching start.
NLEX stretched its flawless record to 6-0 in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup after outlasting TNT, giving the rookie tactician perhaps his most meaningful victory yet.
It wasn’t simply about extending an unbeaten streak.
It was about earning a win against the coach who entrusted him with the keys to the Talk N’ Text dynasty and later shared the sidelines with him in Gilas Pilipinas.
Even after the final buzzer, Alapag made it clear that admiration came before competition.
“Coach Chot is somebody who I have the utmost respect for,” Alapag said after the victory.
“We shared a lot of success together in the PBA with Talk N’ Text and Gilas. It’s always an honor to be able to coach against the best.”
Once the ball was tipped, however, the sentimental storyline gave way to a fiercely contested battle.
NLEX appeared headed for a comfortable victory after building a 17-point cushion, controlling the pace and dictating the game for long stretches.
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JIMMY GETS ONE UP OVER CHOT
NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag talks about his win over TNT and former coach Chot Reyes.
Reyes mentored Alapag for a long time during their Talk N’ Text days in the 2010’s. #PBA50 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/WbeKHV6xRe
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) August 4, 2026
But Reyes once again showed why he remains one of the country’s most respected coaches.
Despite missing several cornerstone players, TNT steadily chipped away at the deficit, turning what looked like a runaway into a tense finish.
The Road Warriors refused to crack.
Timely defensive plays from Ljay Gonzales and Schonny Winston halted TNT’s comeback attempt, allowing NLEX to preserve both the win and its spotless record.
Rather than celebrate his own coaching achievement, Alapag pointed to the effort of the team on the opposite bench.
The Tropang 5G continue to compete without key contributors Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, Jordan Heading, and several other regulars, yet they nearly handed NLEX its first defeat of the conference.
For Alapag, that resilience reflects the influence of the man leading TNT.
“That’s the kind of coach he [Reyes] is. It’s no surprise he has TNT playing the way they are even with so many key guys down,” Alapag said.
The victory further strengthens NLEX’s grip on the top spot in Group A while adding another chapter to Alapag’s dream debut season as a PBA head coach.
Now carrying a perfect 6-0 record, the Road Warriors will look to keep their momentum rolling when they face Terrafirma Dyip on Friday, August 7.
For one night, the apprentice earned bragging rights over the mentor.
For Alapag, however, the respect that helped build his basketball journey remains unchanged.
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