Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 26) – Veteran San Miguel guard Alex Cabagnot did not let a resilient NorthPort Batang Pier steal the victory, as he hit the game winner for an 88-87 squeaker in Game 1 of their 2021 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals tussle.
Cabagnot, who led all scorers with 20 points, received the inbound pass from Chris Ross as he ran towards the left side of the basket, nailing the jump shot with 1.5 seconds remaining in the game.
NorthPort did not have any timeout left after Cabagnot’s shot, which caused swingman Sidney Onwubere to miss a go-ahead three-point heave over two San Miguel defenders as time expired.
“They gave me the opportunity to play. My apprehensions ran away and my timing went back. This would have never happened if coach didn’t play me,” said Cabagnot, who played his first game with the Beermen in the league restart after recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Before the Cabagnot game winner, NorthPort ace scoring guard Robert Bolick nailed a long trey just near the center court logo, as the Batang Pier grabbed the lead, 87-86, with five seconds left in the match.
San Miguel looked comfortable to get the series advantage going into the last two minutes of the contest, after big man Mo Tautuaa made a shot in the paint for an 85-78 lead.
But Batang Pier’s Kevin Ferrer answered back with a three, while Bolick converted an and-one play to keep the team behind by just a point, 85-84.
Both teams missed their next offensive possessions, until Bolick fouled Cabagnot with seven seconds left. Cabagnot only sank one of his two free-throws for an 86-84 lead, which happened before the Bolick dagger.
“Alex is the first option to receive. This man anticipated this move, that’s why he got the ball out there. Alex is familiar with that kind of situation in that area,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said about Cabagnot’s game-winning shot.
Batang Pier team captain Sean Anthony led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds, while big man Greg Slaughter produced 15 markers and 10 boards. Bolick finished with 13 points and seven assists.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 88 – Cabagnot 20, Tautuaa 15, Perez 14, Fajardo 10, Ross 12, Santos 9, Lassiter 8, Gotladera 0, Zamar 0, Pessumal 0
NORTHPORT 87 – Anthony 16, Slaughter 15, Malonzo 13, Bolick 13, Taha 10, Elorde Ferrer 8, Onwubere 7, 3, Rike 2, Lanete 0, Balanza 0
Quarterscores: 21-19, 44-43, 65-60, 88-87
