Alex Cabagnot on SMB’s ‘4-peat’ victory

Alex Cabagnot

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) superstar Alex Cabagnot is more than qualified to join show biz. The hardcourt heartthrob can attend an acting workshop and, voila, he’ll give actors a run for their money.

Alex’s team, the San Miguel Beermen (SMB), made PBA history by being the second team to win four consecutive All-Filipino Cup championships. The first team was Crispa Redmanizers way back in the ’70s.

The “four-peat” victory is quite a feat. It was hard-earned in double overtime. In our basketball-crazy country, Alex has definitely dribbled his way into basketball fans’ hearts.

Here’s my chat with Alex:

What makes SMB’s “four-peat” victory sweeter than the previous championships? Winning four championships consecutively is rare. It cements our name in PBA history and makes us the best all-Filipino team in the first play-for-pay league in Asia. We now have the right to say that our team is the paradigm of Philippine basketball.

What’s the craziest thing a fan did for you? I wouldn’t consider it crazy. I call it inspiring and very thoughtful. She wrote 100 poems for me and made a book out of it. It was an amazing gesture. Now, I have that book on my coffee table, and everyone loves reading it.

How will you spend your bonus? I always share my blessings with my family. It’s usually a trip to the beach, but this time, we’ll go to Rome and tour the Vatican.

How do you stay grounded? In my mind, I don’t think I’m a superstar. I have a tight-knit circle of friends who makes me realize that there’s more to life than basketball.

What has fame taught you? With the little fame I have, it behooves me to be God-fearing and be an advocate of His word. That’s my way of thanking Him for the talent he blessed me with as a professional athlete.

Would you be willing to join show biz after you retire from PBA? People in show biz are very talented. They work insurmountable hours to perfect their craft. So, if show biz would have me, it would be a privilege.

Who are your celebrity crushes? Secret!

What will it take for a girl to pin you down? First and foremost, she has to be a firm believer of Christ. She must know how to cook delicious vegan dishes.

Joel Lamangan and Ricky Lee in one project is a formidable combination. So that makes the stage production, “Binondo, A Tsinoy Musical,” worth watching (opens June 29 at The Theatre at Solaire. Call 8919999).

It tells the story of how a Filipino night club singer in premartial law Manila and a mainland Chinese scholar returning to Cultural Revolution-era Beijing embark on a journey of love and heartbreak that begins one fated night during the mid-Autumn festival of 1971 in the heart of Chinatown. Emo mode on à la Chinoy.