PBA Fastbreak: The Quarterfinal Push Part 2

Enzo Flojo

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

With the PBA playoffs looming, teams are mounting one final push to earn a spot in the top 8

 OVER THE HUMP. Alex Cabagnot put up a nostalgic and brilliant performance to get GlobalPort over the hump and hand them their first win this conference under coach Pido Jarencio. Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

GlobalPort over Barako Bull, 98-96

The Best: This game reflected how hard it is for a team like GlobalPort to win a game in the PBA. Coach Pido’s wards led by 21 mid-third quarter, carried a sizable 17-point bubble to the final period, had more rebounds and assists than their foes, shot much better from the line, and hot-and-cold shooter Mark Macapagal was red hot from long range. And still, despite all those positives, the Batang Pier nearly blew it. They allowed the Energy Cola, behind the sudden surge of JC Intal, Ronjay Buenafe, and Josh Dollard, to claw back and tie the game at 93 in the waning moments. It was a good thing then that mostly-forgotten Alex Cabagnot rose to the occasion, drilling in a go-ahead three-ball that settled the affair and, more importantly, gave Pido Jarencio his maiden PBA win as head coach.

The Worst: This game also showed how, in the PBA, what separates top teams from mediocre ones is not really talent but consistency. On paper, Barako Bull is a pretty talented team with a good balance of veterans and young guys, but on the floor, their inconsistency is what kills them. In this game, former MVP Willie Miller and journeyman center Dorian Peña both combined for just two points. Miller, for his part, didn’t produce anything positive, but he did turn the ball over 3 times in 13 minutes. This should serve as a lesson for the newly-approved expansion teams of the PBA (Kia, Blackwater, and NLEX). Talent won’t be enough to win. They will have to consistently play well. 

Cabaggie Renaissance?: This is the second straight game Alex Cabagnot came up huge for the Batang Pier. Prior to this match, the former Petron star playmaker was averaging just 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 17% from beyond the arc. Pretty pedestrian numbers, right? Well, in GlobalPort’s loss to TNT this past Friday and in this particular game, Cabagnot outdid himself. In those two outings, Cabaggie averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.0 steals while shooting 50% from rainbow country. If he is able to play this well for coach Pido moving forward, then the Batang Pier might just be dark horse contenders next conference.

SILENT OPERATOR. Alaska's Rob Dozier has been a quiet yet steady import for the Aces so far as he put up 22 points and 16 rebounds to send Ginebra back to the loss column. Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

Alaska over Ginebra, 83-73

The Best: Don’t look now, but it seems like the Alaska Aces are really playing like the defending champs that they are. They have been, arguably, the best defensive team so far in the conference, and they rode that defensive tenacity all the way to this impressive win over crowd favorite Ginebra. Alaska utilized some balanced inside-outside production from import Rob Dozier, JV Casio, and Dondon Hontiveros to get their fifth win in 8 outings. Dozier scored 22 points on top of 16 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks to underscore his quiet excellence so far. Casio and Hontiveros, meanwhile, paired up for 4 triples on their way to a combined 23 markers. They also handed out a total of 5 assists, while the Cebuano Hotshot collared 9 boards, too. Coach Luigi Trillo’s wards are now at solo third place and still have an outside shot of clinching second seed and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.

The Worst: With or without import Josh Powell, who reportedly injured his foot in the first half and didn’t return to the floor anymore, the Gin Kings just looked listless out there. They shot just 3/28 from long range and 34% overall from the field while also faring miserably from the stripe, shooting 16/27 (59%). To illustrate, usual reliables LA Tenorio, Chris Ellis, and Mark Caguioa combined for zero makes and 13 misses from beyond the arc. Only the frontline pairing of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar relatively impressed here, combining for 32 points and 17 rebounds. This was offset, however, by their woeful 4/9 performance from the line.

NBA-caliber import: Apparently Ginebra’s Josh Powell IS a legit NBA-caliber player as he will be signed by the Houston Rockets pretty soon to complete their playoff-bound roster. His numbers in the PBA didn’t really reflect this, though, as he put up a total of just 16 points, 20 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in 2 games. This hurts the Kings, of course, since Powell will be leaving them at such a critical juncture, and, well, it’s not as if Ginebra has been playing at a very high level in the first place. I guess if you’re a Ginebra fan, you’ll be in the right to say, “Congratulations, Josh, and good riddance.” – Rappler.com

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