Cabagnot puts in extra work, excited to reunite with familiar faces at Nationals' practice

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Cabagnot has been around the PBA for 13 years. But his work ethic remains unchanged.

Cabagnot, even after two hours of running drills and plays, kept on putting work after the Philippine national basketball team’s pool practice at the Meralco Gym on Thursday night.

Asked if it was a testament of his elation for being called up to don the Philippine tricolor for the first time, the 35-year-old scrappy guard humbly made a correction: “That’s just my routine.”

Cabagnot, despite being sort of a "rookie" in the national team circuit, won’t be having a hard time acclimating as he reunites with some players he saw battles with early in his career.

“Kasama ko si Christian (Standhardinger) — we see each other in the morning. I’ve known Marcio (Lassiter) for a while now. Some of these guys have been in the PBA for a long time. I’ve been with Asi (Taulava) in Coca-Cola, and I’ve played in numerous All-Star games with Paul (Lee),” he shared in a separate interview.

“The guy I haven’t played with na lang is Scottie (Thompson), but you know him, he’s a team player. I think we’ll work well. I’ve no problem working with him and I’m sure he’s gonna help me as much as anyone,” he added.

Aside from the cagers themselves, Cabagnot also reacquaints him with Yeng Guiao, the interim national mentor who he played for in Air21 — albeit shortly — in 2009.

“It’s good to be out here and re-learning coach Yeng’s system, and just to be part and try to help as much as possible,” he said. 

Cabagnot will be joining the 16-man selection of PBA stars from which the 12-man lineups for Iran and Qatar will be selected. The two games are part of the Philippines' assignments in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers for Asia.

In closing, Cabagnot, who had been on many fans’ crosshairs as a prospect for national team duty following the Gilas suspensions, wanted to thank his San Miguel Beer family not only for allowing him to be borrowed by Guiao and the program, but also for pushing him to prioritize the stint.

“Just to lend us to the national team, to allow us to play, it’s a blessing in itself,” he said. “Pero they gave us pa — sabi nila, prioritize muna, huwag na muna kayong pumunta sa San Miguel practice, prioritize niyo muna ‘yung [national team]. So thank you to all my superiors.”