Onwubere shrugs off admiration of Abueva in first PBA game

His debut took a little longer

and when Sidney Onwubere finally played his first PBA minute, he had to brush off his excitement, jitters, and admiration.

Onwubere debuted in TNT’s second game in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday, where he was tasked to match up with the polarizing Calvin Abueva.

For Onwubere, facing off against an NCAA legend such as Abueva was a surprise challenge in his first professional game.

“I was star struck. Yhat’s Abueva we’re talking about,” said Onwubere in Filipino as his KaTropa dispatched Abueva’s Alaska, 106-98, at Cuneta Asrodome. “Then of course we’re in two different teams and we play to win.”

“I really wanted to do my best in defending him, and when I got the chance on offense I will shoot over him.”

Despite not playing in TNT’s opener, Onwubere mmediately paid dividends in his 28 minutes on the floor as a starting small forward.

Onwubere put up six points and nine boards while guarding and outhustling the workhorse Abueva who had a better line of 16 points, nine rebounds, and two rejections.