Old rivals Alex Cabagnot, Mark Barroca cross paths again

It’s been a long day… Without you, my friend.

MATCHING up against old nemesis Mark Barroca brought back memories to Alex Cabagnot on Friday night.

Cabagnot and Barocca rekindled their rivalry even for just a brief spell as Magnolia and Converge battled in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 38-year-old Barocca upended the 41-year-old Cabagnot, as the Hotshots scored a 105-93 win over the FiberXers.

The Magnolia guard also had the better numbers with seven points, three rebounds, and six assists in 31 minutes of play, while hitting a huge three-pointer inside the final minute that stabled the ship for the Hotshots, who lost a huge 21-point lead entering the homestretch.

Cabagnot, for his part, finished with four points, two rebounds, and two assists in a back-up role at the Converge backcourt.

The good ol’ days for Cabaggie and Barrocs

But the veteran playmaker appreciated the moment when he shared the court again with Barroca and Paul Lee, whom he had long competed against for championships in the past.

“Matching up with Barroca again and having the opportunity being matched up with Paul Lee brings some little joys. And those are the little joys money can’t equate (to),” Cabagnot said.

“Those moments, talagang masaya. But we’re still competing and trying to win.”

That’s exactly what the two of them had done several years ago when Cabagnot was still with San Miguel and dueling Barocca and Magnolia for one league title after the other.

As far as his recollection is concerned, Cabagnot said he played the Hotshots in at least four best-of-seven series while he was still with the Beermen, including the finals of the 2017-2018 and 2019 Philippine Cups.

“So that’s, literally, like 28 games. So I kinda knew the guys,” he said. “Magnolia has been together for the last seven years. And I remember playing them a long time ago.”

“Yung match-up na ganun, it’s nice from the beginning. Pero we go back to our usual, trying to win and trying to outdo each other and try to be competitive.”

Only on this night, it was Barocca who got the better of Cabagnot.