Alaska Aces’ Calvin Abueva. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Calvin Abueva was surprised to be whistled for a technical foul for taunting after he stuck his tongue out on the GlobalPort bench at the 0:54 mark of the first quarter.
The dynamic guard said he didn’t realize how sensitive the officiating has turned out to be amid all the tension in the semifinals.
“Di ko naman alam na ganun na kaselan, pero talagang ganun, technical kung technical,” he said.
It may have been a precautionary measure after the emotions from Game 2, but Abueva accepted the call as long as he wasn’t ejected and Alaska came out with the win.
“Buti na lang di ako na-eject dun sa last play,” he said, as the Aces went on to grab an 82-69 Game 3 win.
Even coach Alex Compton chided Abueva for the gesture but the charismatic mentor defended his energizer bunny.
“We don’t encourage that kind of stuff,” Compton said. “Calvin is just Calvin. He’s into the game. He’s playing hard and when people are talking to him, he responds. He’s a lightning rod for attention and he got a technical for that. Hopefully, he’ll move on and realize that they’re gonna call that so don’t do that again and just keep playing.”
But for Abueva, the aftermath of that highly physical duel last Wednesday favored Alaska more.
“Siguro nakukuha na namin yung momentum. Kumbaga, yung first game ang rason kaya namin nakuha itong Game 3,” he said, as the choking defense of the Aces limited GlobalPort to a paltry 24-of-90 shooting from the field and Terrence Romeo to just 17 points.
That defense also forced the Batang Pier to commit silly mistakes, capped off by Romeo’s ejection midway in the fourth which basically sealed the game for good.
“Mas maganda na mawala yung isa sa kanila kasi sila lang talaga ang gagawa eh,” noted Abueva, saying that Alaska’s gritty style of play will remain the same for the rest of the series.
“Stay focused pa rin kami kaya nakuha namin itong game na ito. Ang iniisip natin kung paano makapasok sa championship,” he said.