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#SalamatJimmy! Netizens pay tribute to retiring Gilas skipper Jimmy Alapag

Gilas Pilipinas beats Senegal 81-79 in overtime to get their well-deserved victory. (Photo from FIBA.com)

Words of adulation and praises poured in for Gilas Pilipinas skipper Jimmy Alapag, who very likely has served his final tour of duty for the national team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain.

Several reports, both on national dailies and online sites, have indicated that the charismatic playmaker, now 36 years old, was already adamant in his decision to call it quits on the international stage, allowing younger players to step in to help sustain the country’s gains in the international arena starting in the incoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

But who knows? Alapag could hold off his decision, judging from the way he performed in the grandest basketball stage pitting the world’s best 24 teams.

Standing a mere 5-foot-9, Alapag stood tallest among the Nationals in their hard-fought match against world No. 3 Argentina last Monday, pumping in all of his 15 markers—all from beyond the arc—in the second half where they clawed back from a double-digit deficit and put themselves in a winning position before dropping a painful 81-85 decision.

Saving his best for last, “The Mighty Mouse” came through with yet another sterling performance against Senegal, firing away a team-high 18 points, including five crucial freebies in overtime that led them to a pride-salvaging 81-79 victory in Group B at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo.

The hashtag “#SalamatJimmy” also become one of the trending topics on Twitter on Thursday night, with Alapag’s former Talk ‘N Text teammate and close friend Ali Peek immediately sharing his warm praises for the Texters guard.


 
Rain or Shine, through its official Twitter, account also expressed its gratitude for Alapag.
 


 
Even some members of Philippine sports media greeted Alapag.
 



 

Some netizens also took time to tip their hats to Alapag.