MANILA – Alaska Aces parted ways with problematic forward Calvin Abueva, sending him to Phoenix Fuel Masters in a one-on-one trade deal on Tuesday.
In exchange for Abueva, Aces got reserve guard Karl Dehesa and Fuel Masters’ 2019 first-round Draft pick.
The Alaska management thanked the former PBA Rookie of the Year awardee for leading them to one championship and four runner-up finishes.
“We would like to thank Calvin for his six years of service with Alaska and the good memories,” Aces said in a statement. “We felt as a franchise it was best for both Alaska and Calvin to have a fresh start.”
Aces have seen enough of Abueva after the 30-year-old forward skipped a number of practices during the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup – without the team management’s permission – to resolve personal issues.
Alaska placed Abueva on indefinite suspension and has not reactivated him even if it caused their elimination from the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals when they faced San Miguel Beermen.
Abueva was also recently slapped with a six-game ban by FIBA for his role in the brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia Boomers in a 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifier game.
In Fuel Masters Abueva was set to be reunited with head coach Francisco Luis Alas and assistant coach Michael Robinson, who were both long-time Aces assistant coaches before moving to Phoenix./PN
