Abueva debuts with Phoenix; NLEX eyes 3rd straight win

Wherever he plays, whether it’s in the PBA, the national team or just an ordinary playground pickup, Calvin Abueva brings the same zeal and grit into a basketball game.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters hope these beastly qualities show up against the Columbian Dyip at 4:30 p.m. in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We’re expecting him to bring in the same passion, tenacity and energy that he brought to Alaska the past six years,” said Phoenix Fuel Masters alternate governor Atty. Raymond Zorrilla.

The 6-foot-3 Abueva was shipped by the Aces to the Fuel Masters prior to the season-ending conference in exchange for Karl Dehesa and a first-round pick after missing games due to domestic problems.

Now in a different uniform, Abueva, who won one championship with the Aces, will play competitive ball for the first time in over two months.

“Everyone deserves second chances. I talked to him and told him, ‘you will start with a clean slate, you are a rookie in our team,’” said Zorrilla.

While wondering how Abueva can blend in with the Fuel Masters, an equally interesting subplot is the import matchup between Eugene Phelps and Columbian’s Akeem Wright.

Wright seemed like a perfect fit for the Dyip with 30 points and 14 rebounds during Columbian’s conference debut, except for a bungled wide-open pullup jumper that led to a narrow 109-106 defeat at the hands of the Meralco Bolts.

For the third straight game, the NLEX Road Warriors will be banking on the persistent Ola Ashaolu, who continues to play with a bad right knee, as they face the Magnolia Hotshots in the 7 p.m. mainer.

Ashaolu, playing with a slightly torn patella tendon, has led the Road Warriors to the top with a 2-0 slate.