NLEX head coach Jimmy Alapag and import DeQuan Jones. PBA Images
MANILA — NLEX gave Jimmy Alapag a winning debut as PBA head coach, overwhelming Macau, 114-75, in the league's Season 50 Governors' Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
It was a dominant performance for the Road Warriors, as Alapag formally announced his return to Philippine basketball at the helm of the NLEX squad.
Taking charge was import DeQuan Jones, who dropped 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Kevin Alas backstopped him with 19 points.
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Joining the NLEX scoring party were Ljay Gonzales (13 points), JB Bahio (11 points), and Schonny Winston (10 points) as their squad notched their first win of the import-laced conference in Group A.
With a 39-point triumph, this marks NLEX's biggest win as a franchise.
On the other hand, Macau was handed already its first defeat, with Damian Chongqui pacing their side with 35 points, while import De'vontre Perry tallied a huge double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds.
The scores:
NLEX 114 – Jones 23, Alas 19, Gonzales 13, Bahio 11, Winston 10, Bolick 9, Ramirez 6, Torres 6, Gamboa 5, Valdez 5, Capulong 4, Nieto 3, Herndon 0, Racal 0, Rodger 0, Semerad 0
MACAU 75 – Chongqui 35, Perry 26, Cao 4, Liu 4, Lam 4, Li 2, Y. Zhang 0, Chao 0, Z. Zhang 0, Zhu 0
QUARTERS: 18-13, 45-36, 81-58, 114-75