Alex Cabagnot reaches career milestone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With the shot clock winding down, San Miguel Beer guard Alex Cabagnot faked a step back 3-pointer before setting up Christian Standhardinger for the short baseline jumper.
It was a simple basketball play that turned out to be special.
His pass that resulted to Standhardinger’s basket at the 9:49 mark of the fourth quarter was his seventh assist of the game and 2,939th of his career, passing PBA legend Francis Arnaiz for 10th place in the all-time list, as per league head statistician Fidel Mangonon.
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“I wish my mom, my brother and my family could’ve witnessed it. I’m glad we won and it’s such a big accomplishment being in my 13th year in the league. To God be the glory,” said Cabagnot, who also had 13 points and six rebounds to help the Beermen post their first win at the expense of the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The 35-year-old Cabagnot said he had no idea that he was close to chalking up a career milestone and had actually reached it until one of San Miguel’s assistants told him about it after the game.
“No, [but] I was aware we were down by 12. I wasn’t really aware of the individual feat like that until coach Dayong told me after the game so it feels good,” he said. “I think all the top 10 members are Hall of Famers so just being mentioned in their class is a blessing and just happy right now.”
Cabagnot said he has a ton of unforgettable assists throughout his PBA career and one of which led to a game-winning 3-pointer by longtime teammate Arwind Santos in Game 7 of the 2015 Philippine Cup Finals against Alaska.
“One comes into mind was I passed it to Arwind, I think [during] a best-of-7 [finals]. He hit a shot I think that was when Ronald Tubid called a timeout against Alaska and we needed a 3-pointer and that was one of my many memorable assists,” he recalled.
“I just thank all my teammates. It’s an assist, they made the basket and I just pass it to them.”