MANILA – After six years of being away from the Philippines, Jimmy Alapag believes it's about time to come home and share the knowledge he got from the NBA.
Alapag faced the media on Tuesday, a day after he was appointed the new head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA.
READ: Jimmy Alapag returns to PH, named new NLEX head coach
"It just felt like it was the right time. You know, almost six years in the NBA, I've had the opportunity to see a lot, to learn a lot. And I know how much it's allowed me to grow. Not just as a husband, as a father, but also as a coach," Alapag said at a press conference organized by VP Global Management in Pasig City.
"To have an opportunity to come back home and be able to pour all of that knowledge and all that wisdom that I've gained in the NBA, and to pour that back into Philippine basketball, it felt like now was the right time," he added.
According to "The Mighty Mouse," he first got a call from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy, asking him if he could help out Gilas Pilipinas.
The initial conversation about the national team turned into an opportunity that paved the way for Alapag to return to the Philippines.
Last April, the Gilas Pilipinas legend parted ways with the Sacramento Kings where he served as player development coach since 2023.
Shortly after, Alapag would end up as the new NLEX head coach ahead of the season-ending PBA 50 Governors' Cup.
The six-time PBA champion admitted he still had offers from several NBA teams when he was presented with a head coach post at home.
"At the time I got the phone call from Miss Erika, I was still in contact with probably seven or eight NBA teams, exploring potential opportunities as a player development coach, possibly as assistant coach," he said.
"But again, once the conversation started about Gilas and a possible opportunity to come as head coach, like I said it just felt like the right time to come home. It's a great time not just for myself, but for LJ and the kids. They get a chance to see what it's like to be home," Alapag added.
The 48-year-old admitted it was a big decision for his family to move back, after settling in the United States when he was with the Sacramento Kings.
Alapag and his family moved to the U.S. at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
"It was definitely a big move. For those of you that don't know, LJ and I added one child while we were in the States, so we now have four. So it was a big move for our family. I'm thankful for her support," Alapag shared.
"We felt like it was the right time. I'm thankful for their support and it was time to come home and continue helping Philippine basketball," he added.
Even if he was on the other side of the world coaching in the NBA, Alapag made sure to keep tabs on the PBA.
"Overall, I've definitely followed the league. You see the new talent and it's great. It's great for the country, it's great for Philippine basketball. Again, that's one of the most fulfilling parts for me is being able to come back and to pour in to the young talent we have today everything I've learned in the NBA," he said.
Alapag will get his first crack as head coach when NLEX takes on the Macau Giant Pandas in the PBA 50 Governors' Cup opener on July 10 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.