MANILA, Philippines – After having part of the University of the Philippines'

(UP) coaching staff for the past couple of years, San Miguel Beer guard Alex
Cabagnot was not surprised to see two Fighting Maroons selected as Gilas
Pilipinas cadets.
UP's own "Crunchman," Paul Desiderio, and reigning Rookie of the Year Juan
Gomez de Liaño both made it to the "23 of 23" wish list of coach Chot Reyes,
thus giving them a chance of making it to the national team that will represent
the Philippines in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
"I wasn't surprised at all," Cabagnot said after San Miguel Beer practice on
Tuesday afternoon.
"You know that Paul is a great player," he noted. "He showed his charisma,
and he showed his leadership to us and to the UP community for the last two
years that I've been there."
"And Juan has a lot of potential, as you guys know already," he added.