Calvin Abueva keeps busy at his seafood restaurant, where he is one of the cooks. “He’s a good cook,” says coach Louie Alas of his suspended forward. —RICHARD A. REYES
There has been no sign at all that Calvin Abueva is near the end of his indefinite suspension. You wouldn’t think that, however, if you watched “The Beast” in practice with the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
“The season is about to start so I’m preparing for it [just in case] I can play,” Abueva said on Saturday.
The undersized power forward was banned indefinitely by the league in June last year after a series of on-court misconducts that included a clothesline hit on TNT import Terrence Jones and a lewd gesture directed at Ray Parks Jr.’s girlfriend.
Abueva said he’s doing his best to prove his a changed man and making sure he’s in shape just in case he gets the green light to suit up with the Fuel Masters again.
Phoenix coach Louie Alas is hoping that comes soon.
“It has been really hard on him,” Alas said. “He’s just focusing on his [seafood restaurant] business right now and it’s tiring for him because he’s one of the cooks.”
“He’s a really good cook.”
In September last year, the PBA allowed Abueva to return to practice with Phoenix, putting him one step closer to the lifting of his suspension. But there has been no word yet on when he will be allowed to finally play.
“There’s been talk that Calvin won’t be reinstated in the near future but hopefully he’s allowed to go back to the league,” Alas said. “In all fairness to Calvin, he’s doing everything he can to come back.”
Abueva said that while the league hasn’t decided yet on his future, he’s just doing what he can to prove that he’s ready.
“I’m just doing everything I can because this isn’t just for me, it’s also for the team,” Abueva said. “We just have to put in the effort and I’m just waiting for the go signal. I’m just putting my fate in God’s hands now.”