Beermen stars Cabagnot, Lassiter ready to go for national team

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

If there are two teammates who have so much in common yet have too much of a difference between them it would be Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter.

Both are deadeye shooters and capable defenders but one thing that has separated the two San Miguel Beermen are international tours of duty with the Philippine national men’s basketball team.

Lassiter was part of the original Gilas program that represented the Philippines in international from 2009 through 2012 and he was able to take the gold medal of the SEABA Championship in 2011.

Cabagnot, meanwhile, has yet to wear the Philippine tricolor but his international career could very well start on Monday with Lassiter as they were part of Yeng Guiao’s pool that would represent the Philippines in the next window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifier.

“I’m very excited to just have this opportunity and I’m excited and humbled at the same time,” said Cabagnot after the Beermen trumped NLEX, 125-112, in the PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Just to have this opportunity to be in the pool and serve my country and to help it in any possible way,” added the 35-year-old Cabagnot.

Unlike Cabagnot, who could begin his international career in his 30s, Lassiter was chosen to be part of the national team in his early 20s.

“It’s an honor and I can’t explain into words how much it means to me to be chosen for the national team it’s definitely an honor and privilege and I’m thankful for the opportunity,” said the now 31-year-old Lassiter. “It’s been seven years since Gilas 1.”

Cabagnot’s national team call-up is his first of his career while Lassiter had several ones including the one for 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but the shooting guard begged off from it after getting diagnosed with pneumonia.

Both Lassiter and Cabagnot, though, assured that there wouldn’t be any hindrances in their new career chapter.

“I’m excited to play for a great coach in coach Yeng and I want to see what’s in store for us and I’m intrigued how we’ll play and I’m excited to see what happens on Monday,” said Lassiter.

“Of course, I’m going to practice, I’m so excited I just wish it was Monday already,” said Cabagnot.

As for San Miguel head coach Leo Austria, he assured there won’t be any problems with Cabagnot and Lassiter joining the national team with San Miguel Corporation president and CEO Ramon Ang giving them the green light.

Austria even added that reigning four-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo wanted to play for Gilas if not for his fractured right shin that would keep him out for two months.

“The team we’re so happy especially the management and ever since there was a Gilas team we’re told by the management and RSA that if the national team wants our players then we should let them go,” said Austria. “There won’t be roadblocks for them and even June Mar is so frustrated because he’s thinking of the next window and heart of the guy is in the national team.”