That’s why he’s there
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters were on the verge of handing the San Miguel Beermen it’s second defeat of the conference, leading by as much as six points in the last two minutes of the game Friday evening. However, Alex Cabagnot had other plans.
“Medyo swerte kami, I think it’s Rain or Shine’s game. Unfortunately for them, Alex had something in mind,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said.
After chipping the lead to just two points with 5.2 seconds remaining, the Beermen had a chance to either win it or send the game into extra time. And they knew who’s number to call.
“June Mar [Fajardo] was first option but he wasn’t open,” Austria reflected. “Talagang si Alex nilagay ko dun kasi he can create and make the shot eh.”
“I knew I was gonna shoot it but I don’t know, I think coach had something drawn up pero the mix of the intensity and the certain things of the game,” Cabagnot added.
“You know I just have to take those shots I mean that’s why I’m on the floor for so I think that’ll be a hindrance if I don’t do that for the team.”
However, after putting up 12 points in the first half, the 34-year-old shot had gone sour — finishing the game just 5-of-20 from the field. But clutch time was his time, knocking down the game-tying jumper over the outstretched arms of Jeff Chan to send the game into overtime.
“The team trusted me to do [that crucial shot] and I just have to take full responsibility for that,” he said after San Miguel’s 107-101 win.
For Cabagnot, the win could not have gone at a better time as today was the birthday 63rd birthday of San Miguel Corporation’s president Ramon Ang.
“Actually I was just praying to get that opportunity to take a shot so God gave me the opportunity so I was very thankful it was for RSA actually because it was his birthday,” he furthered.
“Happy birthday RSA.”
But after this day, the defending two-time champions are just a win away from sealing top seed. With eight days before their game against Globalport in Cebu, they plan on eliminating the team’s bad habits to achieve their short term goal.
“We’ll just gonna try not to create bad habits in the last two games. We’re gonna go to Cebu and we have just two games in two weeks,” the assistant coach for the UP Fighting Maroons said.
“It’s a long way, it’s a long layover. We’ll just continue to play fundamentally.”
Video by Sports5
