Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Alaska has decided to part ways with Calvin Abueva as it traded the star forward to Phoenix on Tuesday.
“The Alaska Aces have decided to trade Calvin Abueva to Phoenix,” Aces head coach Alex Compton said in a statement.
“We would like to thank Calvin for his 6 years of service with Alaska and the good memories. We felt as a franchise it was best for both Alaska and Calvin to have a fresh start at this time.”
Alaska receives Phoenix’s 2019 first round pick and Karl Dehesa in exchange for Abueva, who had been suspended indefinitely in June due to his unexplained absence from the team.
The 30-year-old Abueva, who spent his first six seasons with Alaska after getting drafted second overall in 2012, appeared in only five games for the Aces in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup before he went AWOL and got suspended.
Abueva, the Best Player of the Conference back in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup, averaged 10.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in what turned out to be his last conference for Alaska.
He was a vital piece in the Aces’ championship run in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.
Despite missing the services of Abueva, Alaska made it all the way to the semifinals where it lost to defending champion San Miguel Beer.