Alex Cabagnot made his presence felt on Saturday, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists to help the San Miguel Beermen reach to the Philippine Cup Finals for the fourth straight time with a 100-94 win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
It was just another day in the office for the Crunchman, but his outing was made more impressive by the fact that he had checked out from the hospital just hours prior to the 6:30 tiff at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
His own version of a Flu Game, perhaps.
“Yeah, well… I didn’t say anything to the coaches. I was actually released from Medical City at eleven’o clock today — I spent the night there. I was just puking and releasing you know how it is,” said Cabagnot after the match.
“I checked myself at ten in the evening and I stayed there. I was confined ’til eleven.
“I just really wanted to help the team. I didn’t want to say it in the beginning because, you know, I don’t want any excuses if we win or lose,” he continued.
Cabagnot can now breathe a huge sigh of relief, as they have made it past the clutches of a depleted yet dangerous Ginebra side. And in Game Five’s win, the 35-year-old tipped his hat to their supporting cast.
“Even though they’re coming off the bench, that doesn’t mean they’re less of a talent than the first stringers,” he said, as bench guys such as Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Gabby Espinas, and Von Pessumal have always been reliable.
“I love how everybody is stepping up,” added Cabagnot.
“I love how they’re mentally engaged through every game.”
The Beermen will now wait for the winner of the NLEX Road Warriors-Magnolia Hotshots series (2-2), and Cabagnot looks forward to the free time they have been rewarded, as he plans to recharge his body.
“Personally, it’s very important to me. — get home and just get rejuvenated,” said the 13-year league veteran, who had averaged 14.4 markers, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the series.
The odds are going in favor of the Beermen, with many expecting that a fourth straight All-Filipino title is inevitable. But Cabagnot pointed out that their goal is more than just winning another piece of golden hardware.
“Other than winning a fourth championship, I think coach and everybody else on the staff and management, they want to be labeled as the paradigm of Philippine basketball,” said the gunslinging guard.
“I think that’s the ultimate goal that we’re striving for.”
