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Tag: Nic Cabanero

  • Nic Cabañero, Jerrick Ahanmisi embrace growing 3×3 scene despite Manila Challenger exit 

    Nic Cabañero, Jerrick Ahanmisi embrace growing 3×3 scene despite Manila Challenger exit 

    For many of the local players who suited up in the FIBA 3×3 Manila Challenger, the weekend was less about wins and losses and more about discovering how demanding — and rewarding — the global 3×3 game can be.

     

    Even as Philippine teams bowed out of contention Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, players like Nic Cabañero and Jerrick Ahanmisi came away believing the fast-rising format can still elevate their games moving forward.

     

    Cabañero entered the tournament fresh off his stint with Gilas Pilipinas Men 3×3 in the recent Asian Beach Games, where the Philippines finished fourth and narrowly missed the podium.

     

    “Super thankful and grateful ako sa experience ko with the Asian Beach Games and of course sa Manila Challenger. Hindi ako makakarating dito kundi dahil kay Ma’am Erica (Dy) and Coach Ryan Guerrero. And of course, si coach Patrick Fran and the rest of the coaches,” said Cabañero.

     

    “Grateful lang talaga ako dahil iba kasi sa feeling pag nag-represent ka sa country. Kaya every time na may mga ganitong call-ups sa akin sa 3×3, take ko talaga yung opportunity doon.”

     

    The former UST standout also believes the 3×3 format is helping sharpen areas of his game that directly translate to traditional basketball.

     

    “And of course, it will help my 5-on-5 game to be developed, especially sa defense and sa offense ko. Mas ma-improve ko siya. And I think feel ko talaga na lalaki pa talaga yung 3×3 dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

     

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    Cabañero played for SJ Del Monte alongside Aldous Torculas, Gelo Crisostomo, and Lawrence Hawkins. The team absorbed a 21-17 loss to Spain’s Fuengirola before falling to fellow Philippine squad Pasay, 21-18, in the qualifying draw.

     

    Pasay, bannered by Jeff Manday, Zed Etulle, Robbie Herndon, and Jomel Puno, eventually bowed to Fuengirola, 19-13, as the Spanish side advanced to the main draw.

     

    Meanwhile, Mandaluyong — composed of Ahanmisi, Sean Alter, Joseph Eriobu, and Dominick Fajardo — also failed to advance after losses to Germany’s Skyliners and Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy.

     

    For Ahanmisi, however, the tournament marked another important chapter in his growing 3×3 journey.

     

    The Terrafirma Dyip guard recently debuted for Gilas Pilipinas Men 3×3 during the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, where the national team reached the quarterfinals.

     

    “I think it’s a really cool experience for me because it’s my first time in the 3×3 scene and I like it because the 3×3 scene is very electrifying, it has a lot of energy in it,” said Ahanmisi.

     

    “And especially with all of the teams around the world, you really want to know that everybody wants to win, right? So playing everybody, it really makes you better. And anything that I learned from the 3×3, I can bring it to 5-on-5.”

     

    While no local squad advanced, the tournament once again showed how Philippine players are increasingly embracing 3×3 — not just as a side event, but as another pathway for growth on the international stage.

     

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  • Suwon KT of KBL eyes DLSU’s Jacob Cortez, UST’s Nic Cabanero as replacement for injured JD Cagulangan

    Suwon KT of KBL eyes DLSU’s Jacob Cortez, UST’s Nic Cabanero as replacement for injured JD Cagulangan

    Suwon KT’s season took a sharp turn the moment JD Cagulangan went down.

     

    With the Filipino point guard ruled out for the year due to a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, the Sonicboom are suddenly operating without the engine that steadied their backcourt. What was once a team gaining rhythm is now one racing against time, forced into the market to plug a glaring hole at point guard.

     

    Multiple sources closely monitoring the situation say Suwon KT has shifted its focus to the Philippines, where two young guards have emerged as serious options: De La Salle University floor general Jacob Cortez and University of Santo Tomas standout Nic Cabanero.

     

    The urgency is understandable. Before Cagulangan’s injury, Suwon KT was riding a four-game winning streak with the former University of the Philippines star orchestrating the offense. 

     

    The two-time UAAP champion averaged 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 22 minutes for  Suwon KT before going down with the injury. 

     

    Without him, the Sonicboom have been left thin at the guard spot, even as they remain in the thick of the playoff race at 16–16, good for sixth place in the standings.

     

     

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    Cortez represents a ready-made organizer with a winning pedigree. At 23 and standing 5-foot-11, the son of former PBA star Mike Cortez delivered a breakout season for La Salle, averaging 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals.

     

    His poise and shot-making were central to the Green Archers’ UAAP Season 88 championship run—his second collegiate title after lifting the NCAA Season 99 crown with San Beda in 2023. A move overseas, however, would come at a cost, as Cortez would have to give up his final year of eligibility with La Salle.

     

    Cabanero offers a different profile. Taller at 6-foot-2, the 22-year-old has been a fixture for UST, earning UAAP Elite Team honors twice across a five-year collegiate career. 

     

    Last season, the Cebuano guard posted 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while steering the Growling Tigers to a fourth-place finish. His size and scoring punch could provide Suwon KT with versatility in a backcourt suddenly short on options.

     

    Any move, though, comes with added layers. Should Suwon KT opt to bring in a new Asian import, the club would still need to negotiate a buyout for the remainder of Cagulangan’s contract, a reminder that replacing a key piece is rarely straightforward.

     

    For now, the Sonicboom are weighing risk, timing, and fit. With their season balanced on the playoff line, the search for Cagulangan’s successor is no longer just about filling a spot—it’s about preserving momentum before it slips away.

     

     

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