By Jonas Terrado
San Miguel Alab Pilipinas coach Jimmy Alapag sees Nick King as a suitable replacement for Renaldo Balkman ahead of the team’s ASEAN Basketball League season opener on Sunday against Mono Vampire in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Nick King, wearing No. 55, listens to coach Jimmy Alapag, hidden, after San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ 93-89 win over Gilas Pilipinas in Monday’s tune-up at the Meralco Gym. (Jonas Terrado)
Alab had to sign the 24-year-old King last week after Balkman was forced to forego a third season with the team to attend to a family matter in Puerto Rico.
King didn’t disappoint in Alab’s tune-up against Gilas Pilipinas at Meralco Gym, dropping a game-high 23 points spiked by three triples in a 93-89 victory. But Alapag said he was more impressed with his versatility on both ends.
“It was one of his strengths in college, his ability to play almost all five positions,” said Alapag of King, who played college at Memphis, Alabama and Middle Tennessee before suiting up for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G-League.
“And he gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of our lineup to put him in different spots with guys like Jason Brickman, Khalif Wyatt, Louie Vigil and Jeremiah Gray. So it would helpful for us moving forward,” he added.
King will join forces with Wyatt and Adrian Forbes as Alab’s three world imports for the upcoming season as the Alapag and the Philippine squad look to rebound from last season’s quarterfinal exit.
Renaldo Balkman left the team last week due to a family matter. (MB File Photo)
Balkman was supposed to be back for another tour of duty and expected to equal his numbers of 25.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 50 career games with Alab.
“It’s tough,” said Alapag. “You never wanna lose an import, especially less than two weeks before the opener. But you can never foresee those circumstances. He had an issue to take care of and as much as he’s done for San Miguel Alab the last two years, it was tough but I understand.
“But again, Nick’s coming in and his energy has been great. He’s excited to be playing for the Philippines. He’s young and he might be young enough to be my son, almost. But again, happy to have him here and trying to get him blended with the team as fast as possible,” he added.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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