CALVIN Abueva has apologized to Bobby Ray Parks Jr. but made it clear he will not say sorry to Parks’ girlfriend for his actions on Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup game between Phoenix Pulse and Blackwater.
Abueva made the apology in a live video posted on his official Instagram account on Friday night, but reiterated it was Parks’ girlfriend – former tennis player and now movie and TV personality Maika Rivera – who started the spat.
Abueva got caught in the controversy after he flashed a dirty finger, did a lewd gesture and allegedly called Rivera a b***h after fouling out late in Phoenix Pulse’ 91-84 win over Parks’ Blackwater.
“Para kay Rayray Parks. Bro, sayo lang ako magso-sorry dahil I know naging okay naman tayo," said Abueva of his former Gilas Pilipinas teammate. "But I don’t know your girlfriend, hindi ako ang nagsimula. Siya."
“I apologize to you Rayray Parks. Pero sa girlfriend niya, it’s not my fault na nangyari ‘yun. Bakit ako mumurahin. Bakit ako gaganyanin,” Abueva said.
Abueva said he was cursed by Rivera as well as two of her companions while he walked past them after committing his sixth and final foul of the game.
“Dumaan ako sa kanila tapos nag-standing position sila, tatlo sila. Nagtayuan po sila at nagpalakpakan at tinignan kung anong scre. Ang sabi sa akin, ‘Bye, f**k you,’” said Abueva.
That was when Abueva retaliated.
“Alam po ng mga teammate ko kung ano ginawa at nakita po ng asawa ko at nagsenyasan pa. Doon po ako nadala sa kanya na, ‘Okay panalo kami. Eto ka.’ Kung mang-aasar ka, binalik ko lang ‘yung pang-aasar sa kanya.
“Ang akin, oo nabastos siya pero nabastos rin po ako. Wala naman po akong ginagawa. Oo babae siya, pero tingnan din niya kung sino binabastos niya,” said Abueva.
Abueva also said he has no record of any incident of disrespecting a fan until Friday, when he claimed he was only provoked by Rivera’s gestures.
“Wala po akong record na nambastos ako ng kung sino-sino. Nang-aasar ako, oo. Pero pambabastos, kanina lang po nangyari ‘yun. Hindi ko siya kilala at wala po akong reason para guluhin siya."
Abueva also lashed out at Ginebra cager Sol Mercado, who expressed his support to Parks and Rivera on Twitter.
“Ganito na ako Sol Mercado … Narinig mo ‘yung side nila pero ‘yung side ko hindi mo narinig so shut up na lang. Don’t judge me about myself. Stop lang. Don’t talk, okay?”
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