Cabagnot game-changer for Beermen in game 3 win
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Seeing Marcio Lassiter’s torrid shooting go to waste in Game 2, San Miguel made sure none of that would happen again when it took the court in Game 3.
And the one to heed the call? Alex Cabagnot.
The veteran playmaker joined the scoring party on Monday, breaking out with 26 points on a 5-of-7 shooting from threes, alongside nine assists, five rebounds, and three steals.
He led the Beermen to a 114-108 Game 3 victory, putting them on the cusp of taking the series.
READ: No collapse as San Miguel takes 2-1 lead over Rain or Shine
“I’m happy to see Alex back in his old form and I think he’s the key,” said coach Leo Austria.
Lassiter was also elated by Cabagnot’s well-rounded game, saying the starting guard was pivotal in setting the pace early for San Miguel.
“I have full confidence in Alex. He set the tone early for us and he changed some of the strategy for Rain or Shine. He played a great game today, assisting the ball, rebounding, and scoring. That’s what we need from him.”
But for the 32-year-old Cabagnot, he’s just happy that the team mustered enough courage to bounce back from an emotional Game 2.
“I’m just glad that as a team, we stuck together. It’s kind of deflating to lose despite leading by as much 20 points, but I’m glad we just kept our eye on the prize and came together as a unit,” he said. “There are a lot of stuff that we saw on tape that we need to handle and some issues that we needed to do on defense, and I’m glad that we picked it up and made the right adjustment.”
With a chance to once again advance to the Finals, Cabagnot is taking everything in stride and is reminding the Beermen to steer the ship slowly but surely.
“We’re just going to take it one practice at a time. We can’t really look far ahead to our goal and get blinded by it. So we just have to focus on one quarter at a time, one half at a time and every possession at a time,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can make the right adjustments. And hopefully, God-willing, we can close it out on Wednesday.” (DL)
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