Calvin Abueva relishes Gilas spot
A week with the new Gilas squad and the national team’s newest acquisition is quite elated with the things he has learned so far in the training camp.
Calvin Abueva is ecstatic with the opportunity to don the national tri-colors, saying that it’s really a huge honor for him to represent the country.
“Marami na akong natutunan. Medyo magulo pa rin yung iba, pero mas nagfo-focus ako sa mental part of the game,” he said.
(I’ve learned a lot already. Some of the plays are still confusing, but I’m focusing more on the mental part of the game.)
The Pampanga native also sees the Gilas opportunity as a culmination of his hard work, saying, “Lahat bagay, bago makapunta sa ganitong sitwasyon, you worked hard and played hard for it. Dapat laging positive lang at ngayon, mas pinupursigi ko pa yung sarili ko para mas marami pang matutunan dito sa Gilas kaya talagang masarap sa pakiramdam.”
(Before you can get to this situation, you worked hard and played hard for it. You should always be positive, and now, I’m just driving myself to learn more here in Gilas and that makes the experience sweeter.)
Though the squad suffered a lot of setbacks with injuries and players begging off, Abueva knows that it’s a chance for the rest of the team to still strive hard and perform to the best of its capabilities.
“Sa amin na nakapasok, maganda na makapasok kami sa championship. Pero bago yun, dapat kaming masanay sa bawat isa, focus sa bawat gameplan, focus bawat practice para madala namin sa darating na FIBA Asia (For us that got in, it’s better to make it to the championship. But before that, we need to have chemistry, focus on our gameplan, focus during every practice so that we can bring it to the FIBA Asia),” he said.
But the question remains: will the Beast bring the same intensity in the international scene?
“Di ko masasabi kung maiinis sila sa akin. Basta ako maglalaro ako ng maayos para maibigay ko yung laro ko para sa bayan. Magwo-work hard ako para sa bansa,” said Abueva.
(I can’t say if they’ll be irritated with me. I’m just going to play my game so that I can deliver for our nation. I’ll work hard for our country.)
