MANILA — Philippine hoops icon and Gilas Pilipinas legend Jimmy Alapag joined ESPN NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon as The Hoop Collective podcast made its stop in Manila on Monday for a live recording ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The one-time PBA MVP and current NLEX Road Warriors head coach discussed Filipinos’ passion for basketball, sharing how it extended to his previous stint with the Sacramento Kings as a player development coach.
“It’s amazing looking back at last season with Sacramento,” Alapag told Windhorst and MacMahon. “I didn’t know that it was going to be [Russell] Westbrook’s last season, but I had an opportunity to be around one of the all-time greats and really just see the day-to-day preparation and discipline.”
Aside from highlighting Alapag’s stories and how his NBA experience has been vital in his current role with NLEX in the PBA, Windhorst also took the chance to relish his return to Manila and connect with aspiring journalists and student media.
“When I came to Manila in 2023, I was energized by the passion of Filipino basketball fans and how much they understood the nuances of the game,” said Windhorst, who covered Team USA in Manila during the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. “As soon as I left, I said I wanted to come back and engage with the fans.”
In his return, Windhorst led a sports journalism masterclass for student journalists from universities across the country, with the session covering sports reporting, game analysis, and storytelling while giving participants insights into how journalists prepare for games and bring the stories behind the action to audiences.
“I’m glad we could bring The Hoop Collective to Manila and be part of that experience as the new NBA season gets underway,” he said.
The Manila stop came ahead of the official start of the 2026-27 NBA season on October 22.
The opening day features a double-header, with the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo-led Miami Heat taking on Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 a.m., followed by the retooled Los Angeles Lakers facing the Golden State Warriors at 10 a.m.
The action continues on October 23, with LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 a.m., and the Denver Nuggets going up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 a.m.
Fans in the Philippines can also follow the NBA through ESPN programming, including Inside the NBA, NBA Today, and NBA Countdown, alongside live game coverage on Disney+.