PETRON starting point guard Alex Cabagnot trusts back-ups Dennis Miranda and Paolo Hubalde can man the fort while he and Chico Lanete try to recover from their respective injuries halfway through the PBA Governors Cup Finals.
The Boosters regained the upper hand in the best-of-seven series after blasting the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 90-68 in Game Three. Import Elijah Millsap, Miranda, and Hubalde alternated playing the point during the entire match.
“We’ve been together so long na, I trust them (Miranda and Hubalde). They are very capable,” said Cabagnot, who’s still in crutches as he recovers from a torn plantar fascia on his right foot.
The 6-foot Petron guard came to Wednesday in crutches after accidentally landing on the foot of San Mig guard Mark Barroca in Game Two of the series. Cabagnot managed to play through the pain but the Boosters fell short, 93-100.
But Petron came back by playing superb on both ends of the floor in Game Three, leading to the 22-point blowout.
Cabagnot said Hubalde and Miranda may not have seen enough playing time this conference, but their experience in the league is something Petron can always rely on when both are called upon to play the point.
“Paolo has won maybe four or five championships if you consider the ABL (Asean Basketball League). And Denok has won two or three championships so they are very capable of playing in this (Finals) stage,” added the lefty Cabagnot.
Hubalde scored nine points and added a steal in 15 minutes, while Miranda added six points, two rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes, while providing the hustle at the backcourt.
Both are members of the Petron team that won the 2011 Governors Cup title.
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