Abueva vs Parks in semis? Nothing personal, says the Phoenix star

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY: Calvin Abueva would rather focus on finding a way to help Phoenix than dwell on his long-awaited showdown with TNT’s Ray Parks Jr. in the semifinals.

The Fuel Masters and Tropang Giga staged a best-of-five semi-final match at the PBA Philippine Cup after dispatching their respective foes on Saturday night at the AUF Arena.

Phoenix escaped Magnolia, 89-88, on a triple by Matthew Wright. Earlier in the day, TNT thrashed Alaska, 104-83.

Conversations about the Abueva-Parks showdown quickly flooded social media following the second-seeded Fuel Masters’ thrilling victory over the Hotshots, where Abueva had six points, eight rebounds and two assists.

You might recall that one of the reasons for Abueva’s indefinite suspension was the obscene gesture he made to Parks ‘girlfriend, Maika Rivera, during Phoenix’s game against Blackwater in last year’s Stewards’ Cup. Parks was still with the Elite during that time.

And just over a week ago, that incident came into the spotlight again after Parks denied Abueva’s story on Sports Page that the two are already on good terms after the Angeles City native claimed that he personally He apologized to fil-Am cager in a chance meeting at the Quest Hotel.

But for Abueva, 32, all is in the past as he tries to help Phoenix fly to his first appearance in a final.

“Actually, I’ll move on. I no longer care what others say and what others say. My only way is to win this series against TNT, ”he said.

“It’s not for me against him (Parks). There’s nothing personal about this.”

Interestingly, the other reason for the suspension of “The Beast” also involved TNT.

Abueva was hit by TNT import Terrence Jones on the clothesline after apparently receiving a blow to the groin from the American cager. Two days after that incident, the PBA slapped Abueva with a heavy fine and an indefinite suspension that lasted 16 months.

But Abueva insisted on putting those events behind him and looking forward to his semi-final campaign.

“We need to release everything because it is not easy. We will pour everything for this series ”.