PBA veterans Jimmy Alapag of Meralco and Jayjay Helterbrand of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – former league MVPs – may have played their last games during Game 6 of the PBA Finals in the Governors’ Cup.
Even before the title series started, the two said they are already contemplating retirement, with Helterbrand ending a colorful career with the popular team and Alapag hanging his sneakers for the second time.
Alapag first retired after the Philippine Cup last season following a 12-year career with TNT Katropa where he won MVP honors in 2011 and was the league Rookie of the Year in 2003.
The player known as Mighty Mouse” came out of retirement prior to the 41st season as he joined Meralco, which at first he thought was just a waste as the Bolts struggled in the Philippine Cup.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m not sure I came out of retirement for this,” Alapag confessed as Meralco won just a single game out of 11 matches in the all-Filipino tournament.
“But I couldn’t be more proud of this team, just coming from where we were at the bottom and fighting and scrapping every step of the way to give ourselves a chance to win a championship.”
As for Helterbrand, the league MVP in 2009, he already mentioned that this season would be his last.
“We’ll see after the finals because now my focus is to help the team win a championship,” said the 5-foot-11 Helterbrand, the hero in Game 4 when he scored 11 points to lead Ginebra’s comeback 88-86 win.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone already mentioned that if Helterbrand decides to stay for another season, he said that he already has a spot waiting.