Pinaramdam ni Alex Cabagnot ang kanyang pagbabalik buhat sa PBA Bacolor play na may 20-point game tampok ang game-winning basket para pingasin ng San Miguel Beer ang NorthPort, 88-87, sa Game One ng kanilang Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals face-off, Linggo.
Bilang panabla sa three pointer ni Robert Bolick sa mga nakalipas na salpukan, binulabog ni Cabagnot mula sa depensa ni Sidney Onwubere ang loob sa bisa ng short jumper tungo sa paghatag ng Beermen sa krusyal na panimula sa maigsing serye.
"I just got in last night (in the Bacolor semi-bubble), and I'm thankful to my coach who gave me the trust," sambit ni Cabagnot.
"I'm also thankful to my teammates, they didn't mind me playing these minutes (coming from a long layoff). I had my apprehensions but in full fashion of our coach being a great coach, he gave me the confidence," dagdag ni Cabagnot.
"I'm confident in my players being ready to play once they show up. For Alex, he's familiar with that situation. Last five seconds, alam nya yon; bilang niya yon," pahayag ni San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
Ginawang unang opsyon ni Austria si Cabagnot sa kanilang huling play sa last 5.1 seconds habang dapa sa 86-87. Tunay na walang takot, astig na naisalta ni Cabagnot ang napag-usapan ng tropa.
Ang totoo, tinatamasa ngayon ng Beermen ang virtual twice-to-beat bentahe pasulong sa Game 2.
Iskor:
SMB 88 - Cabagnot 20, Tautuaa 15, Perez 14, Ross 12, Fajardo 10, Santos 9, Lassiter 8, Pessumal 0, Romeo 0, Zamar 0, Gotladera 0, Comboy 0, Gamalinda 0, Sena 0.
NorthPort 87 - Anthony 16, Slaughter 15, Malonzo 13, Bolick 13, Taha 10, Ferrer 8, Onwubere 7, Elorde 3, Rike 2, Subido 0, Balanza 0, Doliguez 0, Lanete 0, Grey 0, Faundo 0.
Quarters: 21-19, 44-43, 65-60, 88-87.