THERE is still no sign of an Calvin Abueva comeback in the wake of Alaska’s alarming two-game slide.
Alaska coach Alex Compton said Abueva still remains suspended but is focused on a possible stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the third window of the Fiba World Cup qualifiers.
“He’s playing for Gilas, he’s getting ready for Gilas. He’s focused on that. I can’t share a little more to you guys,” Compton said after a 105-86 beatdown at the hands of Ginebra on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Compton, however, assured that Abueva is still receiving his salary and was only fined for going AWOL, prompting managment to slap him with an indefinite suspension.
“I understand that there’s something we talk about, we don’t talk about, we keep stuff quiet but he is getting his salary, just with the fine. He’s got a family. He’s been getting his salary with the fine,” he added.
With the Aces’ lackluster outing against Ginebra, Abueva’s energy on both ends could have given the team a badly needed shot in the arm. But what disappointed Compton was the total lack of effort from his players.
That, Compton found unacceptable.
“You got an editor, right? You have other co-reporters with you in the organization you work for? If one of your buddy reporters go down, should you not do your job well? Is that not a reason to work harder? That’s how I feel,” Compton said.
“I don’t take excuses for anybody. We have guys that wear the Alaska jersey, practice everyday. I don’t care who’s putting it on, you better honor it. I don’t think we honored it,” he added.
The loss was so disgusting that their plans heading into the 12-day league break changed altogether, meaning less days off for the team.
“We just changed our break because of that. Nobody deserves that. Nobody in the company, in the team, in the families, I mean we’re gonna lose some games but that was just unacceptable,” Compton said.
“I’m glad that we got 12 days because we better change. If we play like that, we’re not winning another game.”
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