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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Alapag, Chot reunion as NLEX stakes clean slate vs TNT

Alapag, Chot reunion as NLEX stakes clean slate vs TNT

Published Aug 3, 2026 03:01 pm

At A Glance

  • Tip-off the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with the Road Warriors staking its unbeaten record against the resilient Tropang 5G, who despite playing shorthanded had strung together two consecutive wins against formidable teams San Miguel and Converge.

For the first time, Jimmy Alapag will have a reunion with his former team TNT where he carved out his legendary PBA career.

However, he would be on the other side of the court as he tries to steer his current team NLEX to its sixth straight win against TNT in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Tip-off the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with the Road Warriors staking their unbeaten record against the resilient Tropang 5G, who, despite playing shorthanded, had strung together two consecutive victories against formidable teams San Miguel and Converge.

Setting the table to the enticing duel is the clash between Titan Ultra and Macau in the first offering at 5:15 p.m. The Giant Risers are looking to get back at the Giant Pandas after dropping their first meeting 132-126.

Coming off a 110-107 win over Converge behind a Rey Nambatac game-winner, and a 93-89 win over San Miguel following Kim Aurin’s overtime heroics, TNT head coach Chot Reyes admits the team is up for a tall task against the team of his former player and now NLEX coach.

“Not only that they are unbeaten but they are playing at a very high level. Higher than any team in the league to be very honest with you. Great job coach Jimmy is doing there. I'm proud of what he’s doing,” Reyes said ahead of his first coaching chess match against Alapag.

“This is going to be a really really big mountain for us but we will just approach it the way we should approach it — piece by piece and just focus on what’s in front of us and find a way to stop the juggernaut that is NLEX,” he added.

The hope for TNT is to once again get big contributions from the shocktroopers especially with the continuous absence of Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Jordan Heading. Even import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson is still trying to regain his old self after coming in as replacement to TNT’s original import choice Darius Days.

But Alapag isn’t letting his wards to be complacent even with their perfect record.

“It’s tough to win in the PBA. I want us to not think about the record too much because there’s so much conference left to play but like I told the guys, this is a compliment to their work ethic and fighting spirit which is why we are here right now,” said the former NBA assistant coach.

Related Tags

Jimmy Alapag Chot Reyes TNT Tropang 5G NLEX Road Warriors PBA
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