PBA: NLEX cruises past Macau in Jimmy Alapag’s coaching debut

SCHEDULE: 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup 

New NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag during a huddle in his 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup debut. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—The Jimmy Alapag era in NLEX got off to a victorious start with a 114-75 rout of Macau in Group A of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

Kevin Alas was glad to help give Alapag his first official PBA win as a head coach after finishing with 19 points in the Road Warriors’ dominant victory.

READ: After US coaching journey, Jimmy Alapag gets his big break in PBA

“It’s nice that we gave coach Jimmy his first official win as a coach in the PBA. We’re just excited and looking forward to our journey with coach Jimmy,” he said.

“As soon as he got in, he was already trying to set a culture in the team to do things the right way and incorporate the system slowly but surely. There’s still a continuity from coach Jong (Uichico) and their systems combine well.”

From start to finish, the Road Warriors showed they were settling into Alapag’s system with import Daequan Jones leading the charge.

NLEX Road Warriors’ Jimmy Alapag during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

NLEX raced to a 45-36 halftime lead and never looked back. The Road Warriors erupted for 36 points in the third quarter while limiting the Giant Pandas to just 22.

They entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 81-58 advantage.

Jones posted a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds in the win. LJay Gonzales and Robert Bahio chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Damian Chongqui paced Macau with 35 points, while import De’Vondre Perry also had a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.