MANILA – Philippine Baskteball Association star Calvin Abueva of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters is still on the state of suspension for almost a year now.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the league’s former Rookie of the Year awardee has no chance of suiting up for the Fuel Masters when the 2020 Philippine Cup resumes as Abueva has yet to fulfill the task required for his reinstatement.
“Na-hold (‘yung pag fulfill ni Calvin ng requirements) dahil sa COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) eh,” Marcial said during his appearance at the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on June 9.
He added: “May pinapagawa kaming requirements sa kanya. ‘Pag natapos niya ‘yun, i-evaluate namin para ako makakapag-desisyon kung makakalaro na siya.”
During the onset of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Marcial has slapped the former Gilas Pilipinas member with indefinite suspension plus a hefty fine.
Abueva’s first offense was his lewd gesture towards actress Maika Rivera – girlfriend of then Blackwater Elite rookie and now KaTropa guard Bobby Ray Parks Jr. – during the Fuel Masters-Elite game.
While that incident was not yet resolved, Abueva was again involved in another on-court fracas by tangling with former Talk ‘N Text KaTropa import Terrence Jones during a during a highly-physical battle
of the two teams. This one forced Marcial to drop the hammer on the Fuel Masters star.
The PBA, commissioner, however, allowed Abueva to attend the training sessions his team since last year.
“Siguro kapag natapos na itong COVID-19, baka dahan-dahan na magagawa niya ‘yung mga requirements namin. The sooner the better,” said Marcial.
Phoenix head coach Louie Alas, for his part, said that he is optimistic the league will lift Abueva’s suspension in time of the resumption of the stalled season-opening conference as he will be a vital arsenal in their campaign.
“We were below par in our preseason tune-up games. Most of the time, our three-four guys didn’t suit up because of injuries. We’re hoping Calvin will play during the conference,” said Alas./PN
