BURGER King Team Governor Lito Alvarez assured that having the league’s finest playmaker Alex Cabagnot on his team is absolutely a great opportunity to consider especially in its ongoing campaign in the 35th PBA Philippine Cup.   

The Whopper received the 6-foot-1 all-star playmaker Cabagnot from the Coca-Cola Tigers together with swingman Wesley Gonzales in exchange for Gary David and playmaker Chico Lanete on Monday.

“We believed that Alex is a rising star in this league,” said Alvarez. “But getting a player like him is not so easy. We unloaded our star player David to get him, but we believe both teams gained on this.”

Cabagnot, who was drafted by the Sta. Lucia Realtors in 2005 before moving to Coca-Cola, is averaging 13.2 points, 5.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game in the ongoing elimination round.

“Yes the trade is already finalized and we’re hoping for a good start this 2010,” said Alvarez, noting that the acquisition with Cabagnot would fill-up the void left by the suspended Wynne Arboleda. “We realized the value of having a backcourt general.”

Alvarez also said that Gonzales, a former Ateneo star, who averages 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, will give them flexibility in the wings since Aaron Aban is still recovering from an injury.

Gonzales’ original team is the Air21 Express way back in the 2005, while David was the Tigers’ 10th pick overall in 2004.

Alvarez also said that former Air21 coach Bo Perasol was the one who requested for the trade and he said that Perasol is very excited to reunite with David, who averages 12..1 points and 2.0 assists per game this conference.

Lanete, on the other hand, averages 8.8 points and 3.0 assists per game for Burger King.

Meanwhile, the PBA Board of Governors has announced that teams could now search for an import that is not above 6’6 for the coming 2010 Fiesta Conference season.