I still remember watching Alex Cabagnot's PBA draft selection journey unfold back in 2005, and let me tell you, it was anything but straightforward. The guy entered the draft with this interesting mix of raw talent and unpolished potential that had coaches both excited and scratching their heads. See, what many people don't realize is that Cabagnot's path to the PBA wasn't your typical success story - it was filled with twists that would make any basketball fan's head spin.

When draft day arrived, the anticipation was absolutely electric. I was following the coverage religiously, refreshing news sites every few minutes because back then we didn't have the instant updates we do today. Cabagnot ended up being selected 7th overall by Sta. Lucia, which honestly surprised quite a few analysts who had him going earlier. But here's the thing about Alex - he always had this incredible resilience that would become his trademark throughout his career. That selection position, while respectable, didn't truly reflect the impact he would eventually have on the league.

What fascinates me most about Cabagnot's early career was how it mirrored that fighting spirit we'd later see in his game performances. Remember that reference about teams fighting back from deficits? Well, that mentality was baked into Cabagnot's approach from day one. His journey through multiple teams before finding his true home with San Miguel showed exactly that never-say-die attitude. He bounced from Sta. Lucia to Burger King, then to Coca-Cola, and honestly, I thought his career might never find stable ground. But man, was I wrong.

The turning point came when he joined San Miguel Beermen. Watching him develop into that clutch player who could orchestrate comebacks became pure basketball poetry. That description of "the black-and-gold repeatedly fought back, climbing from a 12-point third quarter deficit, 68-56" - that's pure Cabagnot essence right there. I've lost count of how many games I watched where he'd be struggling through three quarters, then suddenly flip a switch and take over when it mattered most. His career arc itself was like one of those comeback stories - starting slow, facing obstacles, but ultimately prevailing through sheer determination.

What made Cabagnot special, in my opinion, was his basketball IQ. The way he read defenses reminded me of a chess master thinking several moves ahead. During that crucial PBA draft selection period, scouts noted his court vision as both a strength and a weakness - some thought he was too fancy, too unpredictable. But looking back, that unpredictability became his greatest weapon. He didn't just play basketball; he orchestrated it. I remember this one game against Ginebra where he dished out 14 assists while scoring 28 points, completely controlling the tempo like a conductor leading an orchestra.

His longevity in the league speaks volumes about his adaptability. While many players from his draft class faded away, Cabagnot kept evolving his game. He went from being a score-first guard to a true floor general who knew exactly when to attack and when to facilitate. That transformation didn't happen overnight - it took years of refinement, countless hours in the gym, and that mental toughness we talked about earlier. The PBA draft selection process might have placed him 7th, but his career achievements definitely surpassed that initial positioning.

Thinking about Cabagnot's journey through the PBA landscape, I'm always struck by how his story represents the beauty of sports redemption. He wasn't an instant superstar, and his path had plenty of detours. But each team change, each season, each game added layers to his basketball identity. That fighting spirit we saw in those comeback victories? That was Cabagnot's entire career in microcosm. The man embodied resilience in a way that statistics alone can't capture.

As I reflect on Alex Cabagnot's legacy following that fateful PBA draft selection, what stands out isn't just the championships or the All-Star appearances. It's that undeniable spirit of perseverance that defined his entire basketball journey. He proved that where you start matters less than how you finish, and that comebacks aren't just something that happens in single games - they can define an entire career. The draft might have been just the beginning, but the story that unfolded afterward became the stuff of PBA legend.