Jimmy Alapag Named NLEX Road Warriors Head Coach

Jimmy Alapag has been named the new head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors, the team announced on Monday, June 29. The 48-year-old takes over from Jong Uichico and will begin his tenure with the 2026 Governors’ Cup that opens on July 10. “Coach Jimmy brings valuable experience from an NBA organization, a strong basketball philosophy, and a player-centered approach that we believe can help elevate the team to the next level,” NLEX wrote on its social media accounts.

Alapag most recently worked as a player development coach for the Sacramento Kings through the end of the 2025-26 season. He joined the Kings’ NBA coaching staff in 2023 after serving as an assistant coach for the team’s Summer League squad and the Stockton Kings in the G League in 2021. He left the Philippines with his family in 2020 to pursue NBA coaching opportunities.

Earlier, he led Alab Pilipinas to the ASEAN Basketball League championship in 2018. As a player, Alapag was drafted 10th overall by TNT in 2003 and spent 12 seasons with the franchise. He won six PBA titles with the team, earned Finals MVP honors twice, captured the 2011 league MVP award, and received three Mythical First Team selections.

TNT retired his jersey number 3. Alapag finished his career with Meralco, where he set the PBA record for career three-pointers with 1,250 made shots. The mark was later surpassed by Marcio Lassiter in 2024.

He is a member of the 50 Greatest PBA Players.