DIGOS CITY - Alaska super rookie Calvin Abueva said his first task as an All-Star is to apologize to San Mig Coffee star James Yap for accidentally hitting his lower back in Game Two of their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal playoff series on Sunday.
"Di naman ako yung klase ng tao na mapagmalaki. Siyempre, mas masaya ako na makasama ko siya (Yap) sa All-Star (game)," Abueva told Spin.ph just before the All-Star delegation left the Davao del Sur Coliseum.
"Hihingi na din ako ng dispensa kay James dahil tinamaan ko yung likod nya. Though di ko naman binalak na saktan siya," added the Alaska forward.
On Sunday, Yap hit out at the Alaska freshman for his alleged flopping and "cheap shots." The two-time league MVP has yet to join the PBA delegation in this city as he has to undergo therapy on his back in Manila.
'The Beast' responded to Yap's accusations by saying the San Mig player should switch to chess if he doesn't want to get hurt, but spoke in a conciliatory tone on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Abueva's veteran teammate, Cyrus Baguio, said whether Abueva flops or not, teams will just have to accept the fact that that is how the rookie sensation plays.
"Sinasabi ko nga sa kanya na expect na niya yung ganyang reaction dahil nasa PBA ka na. Ganun siya talaga maglaro. Importante is nakakatulong sya sa goal namin manalo ng championship," said the high-leaping Baguio.
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