CAN Calvin Abueva avoid any future temper outburst and keep his promise to stay out of trouble?
Many people are holding their breath as Abueva expressed his mea culpa and told PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Wednesday that there will be no repeat of any behavior on his part that would disrupt the league, the players and the fans.
TIMELINE: The many controversies Calvin Abueva got involved in
Abueva, whose troubled basketball history goes back to his college days as star player of San Sebastian, where he was denied the NCAA MVP award for unsportsmanlike behavior, was at it again last Sunday where he had a heated exchange with San Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent and then disrespected the mentor by mocking his having just one eye. (Gallent lost an eye in a motorcyle accident.)
Summoned and later fined P100,000 by the PBA commissioner's office, Abueva, the volatile Magnolia star, promised he will be a new man from hereon. And to prove that all's well with him and his protagonist, Abueva approached Gallent before Game Three of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, embraced him and apologized.
Gallent returned the gesture with a kiss which was shown in a clip by OneSports.
At the commissioner's office, Marcial said Abueva promised that he will approach Gallent before Game Three to personally apologize. Before that, Abueva reportedly said sorry to Gallent through an SMS message.
“Sinabi ni Calvin ‘yun na pupuntahan ko si coach Gallent sa game. Talagang magso-sorry ako,” said Marcial.
During their talk, Marcial said he warned Abueva that he would make him pay dearly if there's a repeat offense. He told the player that he would not hesistate to ban him indefinitely simillar to the punishment he dealt Abueva in 2019 for clotheselining then TNT import Terence Jones.
After appeals by many officials and teams, the ban was lifted after 16 months.
“Sinabihan ko siya, 'Calvin, ‘yung ugali mo uli ah. Kaya ka na ban noon dahil sa mga pinag-gagawa mo. Okay lang sa akin ‘yung sa court pero tigilan mo ‘yung discrimination, antics, gesture, kung ano ginagawa mo. Baka i-ban uli kita diyan o i-suspend.
“Sabi niya, ‘Comm, hindi na mauulit,” said Marcial.
Feuding sister teams
The incident involving the two teams, including a reported exchange of words between Abueva and the wife of San Miguel forward Mo Taotuaa, has been a surprise. This is because Magnolia and San Miguel Beer are sister teams along with Barangay Ginebra under the SMC umbrella.
And also there appears to be no reason for players from each team to develop bad blood. The series seems to be one-sided at the moment.
But surely, these incidents will be a hot topic once SMC officials discuss it in the inner sanctum of the board room in Ortigas. WIth Abueva's future perhaps on the table.
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