RELENTLESS. Philippines’ Calvin Abueva, right, fights for possession of the ball against China’s Yi Jianlian in the gold medal match of the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in Changsha, China. Photo from Fiba.com
CALVIN Abueva wasn’t “The Beast” on Sunday night when he heard the stunning news that he, along with fellow Gilas Pilipinas veteran LA Tenorio, had been cut by coach Tab Baldwin from the team that will try to win an Olympic berth next week.
He was said to have accepted Baldwin’s verdict without rancour and his facial expression was neutral, a man resigned to his fate.
After talking to immediate family and telling them that he’s all right, Abueva talked to certain members of his Alaska Aces family and said his exclusion from the Gilas squad was “part of the job.”
“It’s part of the job, sis,” CK Kanapi-Daniolco, Alaska’s sports development and PR manager, quoted their franchise player as saying.
“Ginawa ko naman lahat at hindi ko desisyon na matanggal ako (I did what I had to do and it wasn’t my decision).”
Daniolco was one of the first people Abueva called minutes after Jimmy Alapag made the announcement on TV5.
Abueva assured the Alaska executive that he is ready to help the Aces resume their search for a 15th franchise title when the PBA Governors’ Cup gets off the ground tentatively on July 15.
OK in PBA, Asian level
Two PBA coaches interviewed by the Inquirer yesterday said that Baldwin may have decided to cut Abueva because he is “too small for the position” that he plays.
“In the PBA, and maybe even in the Asian level, Calvin can play the ‘three’ and go up against players who are a little bigger,” said one of the coaches, who declined to be named.
“But at the Olympic level, those who man that position are easily 6-7, 6-8 or even bigger.”
Said the other coach, who also spoke on condition that he not be named: “For his (Abueva’s) size, he should be able to man the point in the Qualifying.
“I think it was (Ray) Parks that Baldwin chose over Calvin, because Parks can play the point.”
Abueva told Daniolco on Skype that he did not resent Baldwin’s choice in any way.
“I gave my best, life goes on,” Abueva told Daniolco.
“I will have time to concentrate with Alaska when I come home, sis,” said Abueva, who arrives with the rest of the squad on a Turkish Airlines flight at 6:40 p.m. today.
“He (Abueva) was smiling when we were talking,” Daniolco said. “He has shown that he has matured through the years.”
Tenorio sore
Tenorio also got in touch with someone really close after Baldwin spoke to him.
“Sayang (it’s a pity),” Tenorio said in a text message to Arben Santos, a fellow Ateneo alumnus who is the Barangay Ginebra point guard’s adviser.