FEELS RIGHT AT HOME
IT only took Alex Cabagnot one week to get himself acclimated with his old team.
Reacquired by San Miguel Beer just over a week ago in exchange for Solomon Mercado, the six-foot veteran guard justified his return to the team with his instant impact in the Beermen’s 2-0 PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series lead over corporate rival Talk ‘N Text.
Cabagnot debuted in a San Miguel uniform last Friday with his customary all-around numbers of 13 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Beermen steamrolled past the Tropang Texters, 109-86, in the opening game of their semifinal series.
But the shifty guard out of the University of Hawaii-Hilo was just warming up. And that’s because two days later, Cabagnot carried the scoring cudgels in lieu of teammate June Mar Fajardo’s struggles on offense, banging in 21 points, on an efficient 8-of-14 shooting from the field, while adding three rebounds and an assist to tow the Beermen to an 87-81 Game 2 victory.
Cabagnot averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in quarterbacking the Beermen’s offense that gave the powerhouse San Miguel squad a 2-0 cushion.
“Diyan mo makikita ang value ng isang Alex Cabagnot dahil kung ma-double team si June Mar, he is a threat from the outside, which he showed naman sa series,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said, of his prized point guard, who earned the Accel-PBA Press Corps. Player of the Week for the period of Dec. 16-21.
Cabagnot beat teammates Fajardo and Arwind Santos, Most Valuable Players for the last two seasons, for the weekly citation.
After carrying much of the scoring load and doing a lot more for GlobalPort the past season and through the first 10 games of the Philippine Cup’s elimination round, Cabagnot is just happy to be given the chance to contend for a championship.
And his goal with San Miguel?
“Winning the championship is definitely enough.”
San Miguel guns for a commanding 3-0 bulge on Tuesday when the Beermen collide once more with Talk ‘N Text at the Mall of Asia Arena. (RD)
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