Pacific Storm: Cabagnot takes #1 spot

Captain Crunch!

Let's all be honest here.

When Alex Cabagnot, spiked hair, toothy smile and big, brown eyes and all, first came into the league in 2005 via the (my beloved) Santa Lucia Realtors, expectations were rather mixed. All we knew of him was that he came from the same high school (Eagle Rock) that Ginebra's Mark Caguioa did, and also challenged/ broke the former's scoring record (although in a longer period of time).

But as soon as he wore SLR's green and white, we were treated to indecisive and inconsistent point guard play-- with only a couple of gems here and there to make us believe he'd be at par with the long list of great Filipino point guards.



It also didn't help that the Fil-Hawaiian caused some off-court drama within the SLR camp that may have caused his trading to the Coca Cola Tigers alongside oft-injured former PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes and bruising Ricky Calimag for then untested/ unheralded (in the pros anyway) Denok Miranda, service big Manny Ramos (who never got to play for SLR) and a draft pick.

At the Tigers camp, Cabagnot started to feel more comfortable with the Filipino style of play and started to let his hair grow (literally) by making smarter plays-- but still keeping his trademark, lefty flashy style. In truth, while I was cheering SLR on, I made sure to keep an eye on Cabagnot's progress as he tried his best and would even transition from PG to SG at times while also pairing up with behemoth Asi Taulava (who was shockingly released by Talk 'n' Text in a trade for Ali Peek).

A few months later and Cabagnot was once again on the trading block, being sent to Air21/Burger King before finally landing at the San Miguel Beermen camp (for Mike Cortez).

Once there, Cabagnot started to learn the trade from one of the smarter court generals of the last decade in Olsen Racela. Here's where he also had time and freedom to test out his newfound scoring prowess- a fixed three point shot that he no longer jumps into, and his trusty left-handed dribble drives (which pre-Ateneo and former coach Norman Black would always morbidly quip "you'd have to cut off his left arm to stop him.")

The minute Racela retired, Cabagnot was thrust into the limelight anew as the Beermen, now Petron Blaze Boosters, point guard of the future-- but not without challenges. Denok Miranda was acquired from the disbanded SLR squad, and his more tactical/ championship-caliber approach to the game was lauded by coaches over Cabagnot's highlight reel worthy plays. Not to mention that Miranda is arguably the most lockdown PG defender in the league the last two or three years (considering old guard Wyne Arboleda's age and suspension issues).

Four years ago, no one would believe
that Cabagnot had swagger like this

But in 2010, Cabagnot's game started to evolve. No longer the passive, all style, little to no substance point guard, he went from being a Steve Nash wannabe to an actual, Pinoy version of the Phoenix Suns' 2x NBA MVP. From darting into the lane and finishing at the rim, drilling in three pointers, making nifty passes and setting up plays-- Cabagnot does his best work in the clutch thus his new monicker "Crunch Time Cabagnot" (KKS argues that we should just go with Captain Crunch, copyright issues be damned).

In truth, Cabagnot's improved play is one of the reasons why the Boosters have been a semifinals lock in the last four conferences. Add to that the confidence instilled by coach Ato Agustin (who, unlike his predecessor, has chosen to go with AC5 full time and just slide him at SG instead of benching him for Miranda) and having great finishers like rookie Chris Lutz and perennial MVP-contender Arwind Santos.

The closest and most argued for #1 PG in the land, L.A. Tenorio is currently battling an assortment of injuries and simply doesn't enjoy the side-to-side speed as Cabagnot or, sadly, his height. This is why Cabagnot is above other contenders to the Calma-Abarrientos-Alapag PG crown (with Jayson Castro, being The Blur as he is, at #2 and only because the jury's still out if he's a PG or SG or both).