Calvin Abueva can go to the bubble, can practice with Phoenix in the bubble, but cannot watch any official PBA game live when the Philippine Cup restarts the league’s milestone 45th Season in a confined environment starting Oct. 11.
Reports of the indefinite ban on the temperamental forward being lifted in time for the reopening of the league were all over media outlets on Tuesday, but commissioner Willie Marcial said that Abueva still has to satisfy some requirements in order to play, even declaring that “it is for the best interest of the league and the best interest of Calvin.”
Abueva has been suspended for the last 15 months—the longest in league history—after clotheslining TNT import Terrence Jones and making a mockery of league and game officials by doing a dance atop the electronic advertising board. He also had an episode with the girlfriend of Ray Parks Jr. that obviously weighed heavily in Marcial’s decision in coming up with the unprecedented ban.
Abueva, the 2013 Rookie of the Year with Alaska, has been stricken off the official Phoenix roster for the bubble, but Marcial said that he can continue practicing with the Fuel Masters—which he has done since lockdown rules were eased on pro sports—and can even scrimmage with his mother team, provided that he stays away from the official playing venue during games.
“Being barred from watching the games live—even if it is his team’s games—is part of his suspension,” Marcial said.
Meanwhile, the first five teams in the bubble can start practicing on Friday, with the seven other teams, counting defending champion San Miguel Beer, to be allowed to scrimmage starting the following day.