Abueva thriving as Alaska’s small forward

Alaska Aces’ Calvin Abueva sizes up Barako Bull’s JC Intal before taking a jumper. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Calvin Abueva doesn’t mind playing as a small forward even if his natural position is power forward.

And it shows as he averages a near double-double with 12.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the 2016 Philippine Cup while playing as a wingman.

“I’m a wingman now but I still go for the offensive rebounds,” Abueva said Saturday after their 108-100 win over Barako Bull.

It was during his time with the national team when Alaska head coach and Gilas Pilipinas assistant Alex Compton told him he would be playing small forward, the same position he played during the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in China.

The versatile Abueva is as dominant playing the three spot and he validated it with a 22-point, 13-rebound performance in the victory that awarded the top seeding to the Aces.

“I don’t worry too much because I can still get the rebounds, the offensive rebounds, the putbacks, I’m happy with what I do,” Abueva said. “I love it.”