AT 41, Alex Cabagnot considers himself blessed to still be able to play basketball at the professional level.
After a brief foray overseas in the early months of 2024 where he played for the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League, Cabagnot had a quick hook up with the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament.
The left-handed guard out of Hawaii-Hilo had the privilege of playing alongside former NBA stars Dwight Howard, Quinn Cook and DeMarcus Cousins with the Mustangs, who scored a five-game sweep of the fourth leg of The Asian Tournament last week in Taiwan.
Cabagnot said at this stage in his decorated pro career, he's just blessed to still be able to play, especially after signing a deal with the rebuilding Converge FiberXers in the PBA.
"Appreciative to the Converge franchise and the management. The feeling of Joy is an understatement, especially when the team feels I can help," Cabagnot told The Manila Times.
The franchise has a young core to build on, starting with the "Mutt and Jeff" tandem of former PBA Rookie of the Year Justin Arana and Alec Stockton, along with the 2024 top PBA rookie pick Justine Baltazar, as well as incoming sophomore guard Schonny Winston.
Converge's move towards a new direction continued after parting ways with coach Aldin Ayo, while taking in St. Benilde Blazers head coach as an assistant coach and Serbian Rajko Toroman to help acting head coach Franco Atienza.
Cabagnot had high respect for Toroman when the former Smart-Gilas coach served as active consultant with Petron (now San Miguel) in 2013.
"Coach Rajko is an Olympian coach, and with Charles Tiu, they blend Philippine basketball mixed with the patience and the nurturing of Franco Atienza, it should be a pleasure to witness," said Cabagnot, who won nine PBA championships with the San Miguel franchise.
Meanwhile, Atienza said the coaching change happened for a purpose and something one can expect in pro basketball.
"No one was expecting that (Ayo and Converge parting ways) and it happens. In our industry, this isn't new anymore" Atienza said during the PBA Media Day. "But you always have to look at the next phase, at the next plays."
Atienza though is grateful to management for entrusting the team to him despite having limited time to prepare the FiberXers, before the PBA Season 49 kicks off with the Governors' Cup on August 18.
"They are a nice addition to the staff, a nice addition to the team," said Atienza of both Toroman and Tiu.
The Serbian mentor and Tiu have a long coaching partnership dating back to the Smart-Gilas program that started in 2009 through 2011.
Tiu was at the helm, with Toroman at his side when Strong Group Athletics scored an eight-game sweep of the 43rd William Jones Cup two weeks ago.
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