IT is as clear as day – Calvin Abueva is so happy to be playing for Converge starting in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
The 38-year-old Abueva said the move from Titan Ultra to Converge in a trade for Rey Suerte, King Caralipio, and Mark Denver Omega felt like coming home as he was welcomed by fellow Kapampangans that are on the team.
“Oo, masaya siyempre,” said Abueva in an interview with SPIN.ph on Tuesday following their tune-up game against Phoenix at the Gatorade Hoops Center. “Sino ba ang hindi magiging masaya. Nandito tayo sa hometown, sa bahay natin. Sobrang saya.”
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Of course, one Kapampangan that impacted not only his basketball career but his life is Converge coach Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda, who discovered him in Pampanga before he wound up playing for San Sebastian in college.
Abueva said the move to the FiberXers felt like a full circle moment.
“Simula nung dumating ako sa larangan ng basketball, siya ‘yung nag-ano sa akin dito. Siya rin ang magiging last option ko pag natapos na career ko,” said Abueva.
“Nung time na nasa Baste kami, siya ang humawak. Now, bago ako mag-retire siya pa rin. And that’s good news for me na siyempre bago ako matapos sa pagbabasketball, siya pa rin ang coach ko.”
Does that mean he plans to retire as a FiberXer?
“Oo, after nito. Kailangan lang makakuha ng championship,” said Abueva, who was coming off a conference with Titan Ultra where he was a candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award.
Retirement, however, won't come anytime soon as Abueva bent on winning a title for Converge. But he warns success will not come easily or quickly.
“Siyempre sobrang saya sa pagkikita namin ngayon. Magkasama na kami sa team,” said Abueva of his patron Pineda. “Pero more on progress pa. Kailangan pang pursigihin kasi kakaano ko lang sa team. More adjustment pa.”
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