Abueva takes finals loss in stride: ‘You win some, you lose some’

Alaska’s Calvin Abueva. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Calvin Abueva has somewhat fallen into the trap of coming in second.

He was drafted second-overall in the 2012 PBA Draft next to June Mar Fajardo.

And while he did win Best Rookie that year, Fajardo would always stand in his way for supremacy in the ensuing years. In fact, in all of Fajardo’s three championships, Abueva was the runner-up.

When Abueva finally saw the path to the crown without the 6-foot-10 Fajardo, he still ended up with the silver medal as Rain or Shine took the title with a 4-2 series win over Alaska.

Abueva, though, is just taking yet another loss in stride.

“Di naman rin masakit, di rin naman,” said Abueva after the Aces lost 109-92 to the Elasto Painters in Game 6 Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Siyempre, talagang ganyan may natatalo may nananalo.”

The energetic forward seemed to remain in high spirits despite seeing his efforts go down the drain.

Abueva finished with 26 points, eight blocks, and two steals for the Aces, who tried to force a Game 7 but was just outgunned by the Elastopainters early on.

Import Rob Dozier had a disastrous 4-of-15 shooting night, finishing only 11 points while grabbing 13 boards.

“Hindi rin pumutok mga kasama ko,” said Abueva whose team shot an overall 42 percent from the floor. “Na-control nila ako sa mga fouls ko, siguro dun na nag iba lahat.”

While he was bringing in the buckets, Abueva was hampered by foul trouble and had to leave with 1:59 left in the game after committing his sixth.

“Yun talaga sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, go hard sa basket kahit foul trouble ako, go hard pa rin, walang pinagkaiba.”

Now that his mother team’s campaign is over, Abueva shifts his focus to the national team but only after resting his ankle, which he fell onto awkwardly in the fourth.

“Paghandaan natin Gilas ngayon,” said Abueva.