PBA: Alapag, top team NLEX hope to sustain form with Deonte Burton

NLEX import Deonte Burton with coach Jimmy Alapag during practice.–Photo from NLEX’s Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—NLEX coach Jimmy Alapag expects new import Deonte Burton to give the Road Warriors a huge boost when the PBA Governors’ Cup resumes next month.

Burton was tapped to replace DeQuan Jones, who suffered a severe right leg fracture last month just days before the break.

“Super excited to have DB with the NLEX family,” said Alapag in a Facebook post by NLEX on Friday. “More than just his talent and his experience, I think, very similar to DeQuan during his time here, I think our guys are gonna enjoy being on the court with him”

READ: PBA: Deonte Burton set to replace DeQuan Jones at NLEX

“As great of a basketball player as DB is, I think he’s just as good of a person. “I think he’ll give us a great chance in the second half of the conference.”

As far as understanding Alapag’s system, the 32-year-old forward won’t be starting from scratch. The two have some history together from several years ago. Burton had stints with the Sacramento Kings and G League’s Stockton Kings, where Alapag served as an assistant coach.

“Obviously, having someone like DB who has NBA experience and the fact that we spent time together both in the G League and the NBA, I have a lot of confidence in how he’ll help our team,” Alapag said.

Burton, who also played two seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2018 to 2020, practiced with the Road Warriors on Friday.

“I’m really happy to be here to play for NLEX. A lot of players have told me that I should come play in the PBA. They kept telling me that I’d love it,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play here. I’ve never had the opportunity, but now I have it.”

The 6-foot-4 Burton will have big shoes to fill after Jones led NLEX to the top spot in Group A, averaging 24.9 points on 56 percent shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals through eight games. The Road Warriors share the same record as the San Miguel Beermen at 7-2 after dropping a narrow loss to the Converge FiberXers in their only full game without Jones.

Burton, who’s played in South Korea, Puerto Rico and China, makes his NLEX debut on October 7 against lowly guest team Macau at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.