NOW the ball is in the hands of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
Calvin Abueva disclosed he has already completed all the tasks required of him by Commissioner Willie Marcial before the indefinite suspension meted on him by the pro league 14 months ago can be lifted.
The eccentric forward of Phoenix is now awaiting the verdict of PBA chief Willie Marcial on whether he will finally be reinstated or remain in limbo if and when the league formally gets to restart its mothballed season.
“Tapos na lahat, resulta na lang ang hinihintay,” said Abueva. “Hanggang ngayon yun ang hinihintay ko kung ano ang sasabihin ni Commissioner sa ginawa ko.
“Yun na lang ang hinihintay ko, yung pakiramdam na welcome ulit ako sa PBA.”
Together with his representative Danny Espiritu, Abueva made a special guest appearance in the evening program Sports Page on Wednesday over One PH and One Sports.
Abueva, 32, admitted undergoing a series of drug and psychological tests and community service on a regular basis as part of the sanction required of him by the PBA following a spate of on-court incidents, including the clothesline he delivered against import Terrence Jones during the Phoenix-TnT Katropa encounter in last year’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Following that scuffle with Jones, Abueva was indefinitely suspended by the league and hasn’t played up until now in what should be the longest suspension ever meted by the PBA on a player.
His mother ballclub likewise withheld his monthly salary pending his reinstatement.
The native of Angeles, Pampanga admitted the turn of events has wiped out all the savings he made from the time he turned pro in 2012.
“Lahat ng first year to seven years, nawala, nakalimutan ko,” he said. “Ang step forward sa sarili ko, paano masisimulan ulit ang year na pinaglaruan ko sa PBA, kung paano ako nagsimula.”
The long time he was away from playing made him reflect on his career. And the psychological tests he did – a total of six in all – helped him to know himself more.
“Ang laki ng pagbabago sa mga nangyari sa akin sa past year na dumaan. Naging malinaw sa pagiisip ko kung ano dapat ang temper, dapat attitude sa mga tao,” said Abueva.
He added the spirited way with which he plays the game – and of which he’s always been known for - will still be there, but with less emotion this time.
“Ang pinag-aaralan ko yung emotion. Natural andiyan yan, kasabay sa laro, pero yung temper kailangan limitahan,” said the one-time NCAA MVP from San Sebastian.
“Ang temper, yun ang magso-solve sa anger, yung panggigigil sa court, pero di panggi-gigil sa kalaban. Ang gigil kung paano mabi-beat (ang) bawat isa, paano mapapanalo yung team.”
Like a baby eager to make his first steps, so is Abueva in rebooting his playing career.
“Iniisip ko na lang parang may injury na lang ako,” he said. “Knock on wood, pero inip na ako, gusto ko na bumalik sa laro.”
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