SAN Miguel coach Leo Austria believes their match against Terrafirma would have been much more difficult for the Beermen had Alex Cabagnot played the Dyip.
The Beermen won their third straight 2021 PBA Governors' Cup game, 100-88, on Sunday against a Terrafirma side left without Cabagnot, who missed out due to a torn Achilles tendon.
Austria said the longtime SMB guard still has a lot left in his tank at age 40 and his presence would have changed the complexion of the game against the Dyip.
“Definitely, it will become harder for us to beat them because Alex, alam niya what’s going on in our team, alam niya ang plays at strategy," said Austria of Cabagnot, who was traded to the Dyip for Simon Enciso.
"He is playing well and he has good chemistry with his [new] teammates,” said Austria.
Austria said Cabagnot would've been a real asset for the Dyip - and hard to handle for the Beermen - when the game became too close for comfort in the final minutes.
“I think it will be a problem especially in the stretch because he has proven to his teammates na he is a big factor. ‘Yung impact niya sa team is really big,” he added.
Coach wishes Cabagnot well
Austria said he is hoping for the best for Cabagnot’s health, confident that he will be back even stronger for Terrafirma.
“I know for a fact na everytime he is suffering some injuries, he will be back stronger. He is playing well," said Austria. "Unfortunately, that incident, that’s beyond his control. I’m praying for him to recover well.
"There are a lot of fans wanting him to play,” said Austria.