A 52-year-old man from Mumbai presents to the emergency department with acute chest pain and severe dyspnea. He collapsed at work 30 minutes ago. On examination, blood pressure is 85/50 mmHg, heart rate 118/min, and respiratory rate 28/min. ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Cardiac biomarkers (troponin I) are elevated at 2.8 ng/mL (normal <0.04). Echocardiography reveals hypokinesis of the inferior wall with an ejection fraction of 35%. The patient is immediately taken for emergency coronary angiography and primary PCI is performed with successful reperfusion. Which of the following best explains why myocardial cell viability can still be preserved despite the prolonged ischemia in this patient?