ALASKA coach Alex Compton hopes that Calvin Abueva is alright wherever he is as the star forward has been incommunicado since the 2018 PBA All-Star Week.
“Calvin, if you’re watching, I hope you’re ok,” said the outspoken mentor on the heels of the Aces’ 109-103 victory over GlobalPort on Saturday in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Compton had no explanation to Abueva’s absence, sharing that the Kapampangan energizer bunny has not reported to the Aces camp since the midseason festivities.
“He hasn’t showed up for practice since the All-Star break. We’re been reaching out to him and we know people around him are ok. He’s just going through some personal issues and we’re just hoping he’s safe and alright,” he said.
Abueva played in all three legs of the All-Star Week, and even set a record of 27 rebounds, the most in league history, in the Smart All-Stars’ 157-141 defeat to the Visayas All-Stars in Iloilo last Sunday. However, he was 0-3 in the games he played.
The Alaska camp has repeatedly tried to reach out to Abueva, but all of those efforts were to no avail.
“We tried,” shared Compton. “He’s just trying to sort some things in his life and that’s how it is to us, life is bigger than basketball.”
It wasn’t the first time Abueva has gone MIA for the Aces this season, missing the first few games of the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup due to some personal matters.
Abueva has been averaging 10.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 19.9 minutes of play this conference.