ALEX Cabagnot is a star in his own right who had seen just about everything in basketball.
But even at 41 years old, the former PBA star is enthralled at the thought of playing alongside not just one, but three ex-NBA players.
The nine-time PBA champion with San Miguel said he’s looking forward having Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins, and Quinn Cook as teammates with the Taiwan Broncos (formerly Mustangs) in the 4th leg of The Asian Tournament.
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The Broncos will host the next leg of the fledgling regional tournament from July 26 to August 1 at the Taipei Peace Basketball Hall.
“We know we’ll have a good time with Dwight (Howard) and all the other guys,” said Cabagnot, who was recently in the country when the Taiwan Mustangs played a friendly against Gilas Pilipinas prior to the national team’s departure to Europe for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“Nakaka-starstruck. So I’m very happy.”
Howard, Quinn, and Cousins were teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers and were part of the team that won the 2020 NBA Finals. Cousins didn’t play for the team though, after suffering an ACL injury during the offseason.
Cousins and Howard both played for the Taoyuan Leopards (later known as the Taiwan Beer Leopards), but were never teammates as their stint happened one season apart.
Cousins though, steered the Leopards to their first-ever T1 League championship after a sweep of the Taipeh Taishin Mars, 4-0, in the finals. The 33-year-old NBA veteran, nicknamed ‘Boogie’ and a product of Kentucky, emerged as Finals MVP.
Of course, Howard was a certified NBA superstar, an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year who played in the 2009 Finals for the Orlando Magic, but lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was also a member of the US Redeem Team that regained the men’s basketball gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A product of Duke, Cook won his first NBA title playing together with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors in 2018 following a four-game sweep of Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 31-year-old guard returned to the Finals the following season, but the Warriors failed to retain their title after losing to the Toronto Raports in six games.
The credentials alone, were enough not only for Cabagnot, but for the rest of the Taiwan Broncos to look forward playing together with the three Americans.
“It’s amazing. I can’t wait talaga,” he said. “Excited na excited not just me, but everybody on our team.”
Cabagnot has Rashawn McCarthy – his former san Miguel teammates – and Geo Chiu as teammates with the Broncos, coached by Chris Gavina, with Rich Alvarez as his deputy.
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