Abueva return limited to team practices so far, says PBA chief

Calvin Abueva returns to Phoenix practices on Thursday. PHOENIX PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Calvin Abueva rejoined Phoenix Fuel on Thursday morning, but PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the former is only limited to training with his team.

“He told me he was gaining weight and asked if he could at least join the team’s practices,” Marcial told a handful of reporters on later in the afternoon.

“I told him to go ahead, but said he couldn’t join the team’s tuneups,” he added. “Also, it doesn’t mean that just because you’re practice, you’re guaranteed of a return to action.”

Abueva is serving an indefinite suspension following an altercation with former TNT import Terrence Jones and a verbal spat with a fellow PBA athlete’s girlfriend.

“We still have to talk. And I’m planning to do that after I come back from Dubai,” said Marcial when asked about a timeline on Abueva’s sanctions.

“At least we’ve had initial talks,” added the Commissioner, who also said that he has taken notice of the mercurial forwards’ bid to reform himself in the form of community service like basketball clinics.

The pair met last Sept. 16 according to the league’s website.

“We’re all eager to see Calvin get his act right,” Marcial said. “He told me he’d do everything in his capacity to change. Let’s see.”

“I don’t want to speak with finality because we haven’t really talked thoroughly.