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“The Crunchman” returns to PBA, signs with Converge
Veteran guard Alex “The Crunchman” Cabagnot has returned to the Philippine Basketball Association by signing a two-conference deal with the Converge last Monday, August 5.
The nine-time PBA champion came back to help the young FiberXers to become a much better team especially with the arrival of the 49th Season first overall pick Justine Baltazar who’s also seen as Justin Arana’s potential partner in the paint to form their own twin tower combination.
Cabagnot will also team-up with the much improved Alec Stockton whom he can train to be an elite point guard, team leader and a crunch time scorer just like him.
Photo Courtesy: Reuben Terrado (Spin.ph)
"I just want to help the team. I recognized having the personal accolades, you don't really admire it until you are fully retired," Cabagnot said.
"It's not for now. We're focused on hopefully, maka-playoff kami. We go to certain places that we've never been before. The milestones na iniisip ko, you will truly admire it when you're fully done,” he added.
Cabagnot’s pro basketball journey
Alex Cabagnot was the second overall pick of the now defunct Sta. Lucia Realtors at the 2005 PBA Draft. He played two seasons with the team before being dealt to Coca-Cola Tigers where he played for two years.
The Tigers then traded him to Burger King Whoppers. He only played there for several games before being traded to San Miguel Beermen/Petron Blaze Booster where his career blossomed during his 2010-214 stint.
Though the Beermen traded him again for a while at Global Port, they once again got his services in the latter part of 2014 until 2021.
Then he was traded again and suited up for Terrafirma Dyip from 2021-2023 but he didn’t play that much as he suffered from an injury (torn achilles tendon). He was released by the team after his contract expired and became a free agent.
He then played for Goyang Sono in Korea later that year before transferring to the Taiwan Mustangs, which once played Gilas Pilipinas in an exhibition game before the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Last run for “the crunchman”
Cabagnot is glad that he’s back with the PBA to play his 20th season and is probably ready to hang up his sneakers at the end of the season.
“It’s kind of surreal because I thought I wasn’t get to finish. I had some offers in other countries – Mongolia, Taiwan. And I said, sana makatapos, my 20th year sa PBA. God is good and I’m here now,” said Cabagnot.
“Sana makatapos ng 20th year ko injury-free, smiling, and playing,” Cabagnot added.
