NLEX Road Warriors guard Kevin Alas expressed deep interest in learning under new head coach Jimmy Alapag.

Alas said getting pointers from Alapag brings back good memories from his rookie days with TNT Tropang 5G and also gives him the opportunity to soak up knowledge from the same guy who had an unforgettable stint with Gilas Pilipinas apart from his being a player development coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Road Warriors showed promise after beating the Converge FiberXers, 123-101, in a tune-up match following Alapag’s appointment last week.

“First, excitement. Because we know that Coach Jimmy now has NBA experience with the Sacramento Kings. At the same time, I was also with Gilas before under Coach Jimmy,” Alas said.

“I was a rookie here at TNT because he was my veteran and mentor at that time.”

Alas said the 48-year-old Alapag’s NBA methods are already being implemented, and he hopes they will help fuel NLEX’s campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

“So far, so good because in our practices, I think the way they do things in the NBA, they’re applying it to us here. So far, it’s been going good for us and everyone’s been enjoying it,” Alas said.

“Of course, we’re looking forward to seeing the results when it comes to the games.”

Even Road Warriors guard Schonny Winston felt the immediate effects of Alapag’s coaching.

“Definitely that championship mindset. When he was playing, he played great and just that NBA-caliber experience, he has so much to teach us,” Winston said.

“With Coach Jimmy, he’s just given everybody so much confidence to go out there and compete.”

Alapag said he wants to emulate former Kings head coach Mike Brown in his first head coaching stint in the PBA.

The six-time PBA champion player worked for Brown in Sacramento for a season before moving to the NBA champions New York Knicks.

“I think as a coach it’s something I learned from coach (Mike) Brown during our time in Sacramento before he moved on to New York and won an NBA championship. He was all about, you know, being positive with the player and really trying to encourage them and uplift them to allow them to play and perform at their best,” Alapag said.

“That’s one of the many things that I’m gonna try to implement now that I’m here.”

NLEX hopes for a better result in the season-ending conference after bowing out in the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup to TNT despite holding a twice-to-beat advantage as the No. 1 seed.

The Road Warriors will open their Governors’ Cup campaign against the Macau Giant Pandas on 10 July at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.