With offcourt issues settled, Calvin Abueva unleashes ‘Beast 2.0′

There’s a new Beast in town, and he’s wearing no. 88.

And oh, that Beast is still Calvin Abueva.

Alaska’s polarizing forward unveiled a new jersey number in Alaska’s dominating 93-75 win over Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup and Abueva said the change in digits is a metaphor for the new chapter in his life.

“These past three weeks have been too hard on me,” said Abueva in Filipino Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: Abueva leaves Alaska-Blackwater game due to personal emergency

“The no. 8 is still with me, but what’s happening with my family has been really sad, so I changed my number to 88. This is The Beast 2.0. I will show to everyone that I can get through this.”

This family problem has caused Abueva to miss several days of practice with Alaska and weekly practices with Gilas Pilipinas—where he was eventually dropped for the February window

Worse came to worst when Abueva left the game against Blackwater last Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum before it even started.

READ: Out of February window for Gilas, Abueva vows to make up for lost time

Abueva, who finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Fuel Masters, hinted that his marriage with wife Sam is on the rocks but he used this crisis in his private life to be his motivation in his professional life.

“I got the motivation from what I’m going through in the past three weeks,” said Abueva. “I learned to live on my own and be happy on my own. I really like this new number and I showed it on the court earlier. I just miss my son [Clint], though.”

“I chose the no. 88 for 2018, and this will be the best part of my life except for my love life,” said Abueva laughing.