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CALVIN ABUEVA will be back in action on Monday and although he admitted to having learned his lesson after being suspended indefinitely for 17 months, he said he would remain as “The Beast” of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
“I don’t like to be too excited and I don’t want to wait long, but it will be the physical Abueva himself,” Abueva told BusinessMirror minutes after Commissioner Willie Marcial announced the lifting of his suspension.
“But I will always be aware of my actions on and off the court,” added Abueva.
The PBA allowed Abueva to play for Phoenix Super LPG in the ongoing Philippine Cup in the PBA bubble, ending months of uncertainty for the former San Sebastian College star who was suspended indefinitely and fined P70,000 for a foul on the clothesline about TNT importer Terrence Jones and involving Bobby “Ray” Parks Jr.’s girlfriend, Myka Rivera, in a verbal dispute last year.
The PBA commissioned Abueva to do community service as a requirement for his return and completed an online seminar on the conduct of professional athletes that led the Board of Games and Entertainment to reinstate his gaming license.
Hearing the good news, the Angeles City native said he would do his best to lead the Fuel Masters.
“I will do my best,” Abueva said when he joined the Fuel Masters against the NLEX Road Warriors on Monday at the Fundación Universitaria de Ángeles gym in Pampanga.
“I will dedicate this game to all the people who prayed for my reinstatement and for my teammates, coaches and management for being there by my side,” he said.
Phoenix coach Topex Robinson couldn’t describe how happy he was when Marcial announced the decision during his practice Sunday morning.
But Robinson said the focus now is on the NLEX game.
“It’s a challenge. We know how NLEX plays and train Yeng [Guiao]. They’re on a mission especially that they can’t afford to lose more because all of their games are important now, ”Robinson said, referring to the Road Warriors’ 1-4 win-loss record in the bubble.
Also scheduled for Monday is the TNT Tropang Giga-Northport game at 6:45 pm
