PLAIN and simple, Calvin Abueva still has requirements to fulfill before he can finally be given the go signal to resume his mothballed PBA career.
Commissioner Willie Marcial made this clear in light of Phoenix Super LPG’s last-minute decision not to make Abueva a part of its 25-man roster that will compete inside the Clark bubble when the Philippine Cup restarts on Oct. 11.
Marcial said contrary to Abueva’s earlier claim that he already completed the process set by the league for the lifting of a suspension now spanning 15 months, there remains certain preconditions which the Phoenix forward has yet to fulfill.
He refused to go into detail on what those requirements are.
“Tinawagan ko nga siya after at pinaliwanag na may pinapagawa pa sa kanya ang liga,” said Marcial. “Sorry nga siya ng sorry after.”
The PBA chief however, would not say if the Fuel Masters still included the 32-year-old Abueva in their bubble lineup. But he did confirm only a 24-man roster was submitted by Phoenix by the deadline of submission of lineups on Friday.
SPIN.ph learned through a source that Abueva didn’t undergo swab testing during Phoenix’s schedule last Wednesday. COVID-19 testing is a mandatory protocol for players, coaches, and team personnel who are going to enter the bubble.
Marcial is aware of the heavy criticism his office has been receiving from fans surrounding the suspension of Abueva, which now stands as the longest ever in PBA history meted on a player.
But when everything is said and done, the commissioner said everybody will appreciate what the league has been trying to do, including Abueva himself.
“Makikita ninyo na ang lahat ng ito ay sa ikabubuti ni Calvin, sa ikabubuti ng liga, at sa ikabubuti ng karamihan,” he said.
Asked if it is possible for a last-minute entry by Abueva in the bubble should he manage to complete the requirements before the season resumes, Marcial was non-committal.
“Tingnan na lang natin,” he said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
