PBA legend Alex Cabagnot ends Converge stint amid retirement talk, joins UE coaching staff

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

Though not yet officially retired, PBA's legendary 'Crunchman' Alex Cabagnot sidesteps from one youth movement to another with UE coaching staff immediately after his Converge player contract expiration

MANILA, Philippines – PBA legend Alex Cabagnot is jumping from one youth movement to another, as he takes his wealth of basketball knowledge back to the sidelines as a UE Red Warriors assistant coach on Monday, February 24, the same day he was released from his player contract with the Converge FiberXers.

Though the team through its social media pages initially announced Cabagnot’s release as also a retirement from on-court competition, Converge team manager CK Kanapi-Daniolco and coach Franco Atienza both clarified to Rappler that only Cabagnot’s contract expiration is confirmed.

Cabagnot himself has not officially announced the end of his prolific 19-year PBA career.

FiberXers pages have since edited their posts to simply thank the legendary “Crunchman,” who played sparingly in the midst of an uber-talented and youthful Converge back court that features the likes of Alec Stockton, Jordan Heading, and Schonny Winston.

A nine-time PBA champion, eight-time All-Star, and former PBA Finals MVP as a member of the legendary San Miguel “Death Five,” the 42-year-old Cabagnot heads to UE to aid new head coach Chris Gavina as the Red Warriors extend a 15-year search for their next Final Four berth.

Under previous head coach Jack Santiago, UE came one win away from a guaranteed semifinals spot with a 5-2 record before suffering a monumental collapse to end up in fifth place at 6-8, capping UAAP Season 87 with a playoff tiebreaker loss to Adamson.

With Gavina, Cabagnot, and the rest of the new coaching staff on board, UE will once again lean on the likes of Precious Momowei, Wello Lingolingo, Rainer Maga, and John Abate to lead the Red Warriors back to collegiate basketball relevancy in Season 88.

Also on Monday afternoon, Converge announced another shakeup in its ranks, as it tapped Arellano head coach Chico Manabat to join Atienza and Pampanga Governor Delta Pineda on the FiberXers’ sideline crew. – Rappler.com