IS Calvin Abueva still injured or is he starting to fall out of Magnolia’s main rotation?
More like the latter.
Sources said Abueva is in the pink of health, even just days after he was stretchered out of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last November 28 following an elbow to the neck from rookie hotshot Sedrick Barefield in a game against Blackwater.
As a precaution, Abueva sat out the Hotshots' match against Converge last December 1 after being diagnosed with neck spasm. But 'The Beast' was back in training and ready to play just three days later, sources bared.
“Pinagpahinga siya against Converge pero mga two days lang siya hindi nag-ensayo tapos bumalik na agad siya (sa training),” said a Magnolia insider who requested anonymity.
If he's healthy, why is Calvin sitting out?
Oddly, Abueva’s role in the team has been diminished since as he failed to register even a single minute in Magnolia’s games against the NorthPort Batang Pier on December 4 and versus the TNT Tropang Giga on December 11.
“Okay naman na kundisyon ni Calvin, wala na siyang injury. Di ko lang rin alam kung bakit hindi nagagamit,” the insider added.
“Sa game pa lang against NorthPort, pwede na siya eh. Kaso di ko alam bakit hindi nagamit at limited minutes ang nabibigay sa kanya."
In his lone outing so far for Magnolia since suffering the injury in the Blackwater game, Abueva only played for 12 minutes and contributed 8 points, 1 rebound and 3 turnovers in a loss to Rain or Shine on Wednesday.
That got a number of fans asking, more so those who know that a player like Abueva who can hustle, break dow the opponent’s defense and score is exactly what Magnolia needs at this time to snap out of a four-game losing streak.
“Na-injury ba si Abueva ni pinasok nung 2nd half e,” Mikel Oras commented on SPIN.ph's Facebook page.
“Nice coach. Abueva 12 mins 8 pts. Paborito dela rosa 16 mins 2 points. Labo,” added another fan, Clarence Dominguez.
So, why did Abueva play limited minutes against Rain or Shine?
“Sa game against Rain or Shine, tingin ko hindi na siya binalik kasi nagsunod-sunod ang score ni Santi (Santillan). Nag-stick ang coaching staff kay [Zavier] Lucero sa 4 (spot),” said the insider.
So why isn't Abueva shifted to the 3 or 2 spot, which he has played with a lot of success at Alaska, Phoenix, and in his early years with Magnolia?
“Wala kasi kaming agile at mabilis na kwatro kaya sila pinagpapalitan ni Lucero sa pwesto,” explained the Magnolia insider.
Guessing game
And why can’t coach Chito Victolero play Abueva and Lucero together at 3 and 4?
“Yun ang hindi ko alam. Desisyon ni coach 'yun. Ang tres namin talaga sina Aris Dionisio at Rome Dela Rosa, yang dalawa na yan lang yung nasa rotation talaga eh. Hindi ko maintindihan,” he said.
So as Magnolia’s woes continue to pile up, fans can only keep guessing.
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