Calvin Abueva of Alaska (light) vs Ivan Johnson of Talk N Text (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Alaska forward Calvin Abueva was in his usual self Sunday night against Talk ‘N Text.
Abueva nearly had a double-double with 16 points and seven rebounds, which is his normal numbers, and he got under his opponents’ skin as well which is also what he’s known for.
“Calvin is Calvin,” said Talk ‘N Text consultant and national team head coach Tab Baldwin after the Tropang Texters’ 101-93 win over the Aces. “He’s always gonna try and be disruptive and that’s one of the things that makes him a valuable player.”
Abueva’s peskiness and unnecessary actions drew the ire of TNT import Ivan Johnson as the two got into each other’s nerve in a heated fourth quarter after the Aces had mounted their comeback from 25 points down.
“He walks that fine line and he upsets everybody. He upsets our coaching staff, we get upset at the referees, the referees get upset at everybody and Calvin seems to remain quite cool through the whole thing and continue to do what Calvin does,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin is still in the process of choosing players whom he will add to the national team pool and with Abueva continuing to establish himself as a force to reckon with in the league, he could be among those players selected by the American-New Zealander mentor.
Baldwin praised how Abueva allows Alaska to play with so much energy but added that the former San Sebastian standout has to “manage” the way he plays the game.
“Antics are always disadvantage, competitiveness is always an advantage,” he said. “So it’s up to the individual to define when competitiveness becomes antics and that’s something that Calvin has to manage with his coaches, with himself so I think that answers the question.”
“If we’re all identifying it as antics then it’s probably a negative but if it’s just the competitive nature, then it’s something, as long as there’s discipline behind it, it’s not a disadvantage.”