Magnolia Hotshots forward Calvin Abueca reacts during their game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup at Araneta Coliseum. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero is in no rush to bring back Calvin Abueva from injury.
Abueva hasn’t played for the Hotshots since their 96-93 win over TNT on February 11 due to a calf muscle strain.
Victolero said he has no problems letting Abueva rest out their final game of the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations against Blackwater and would rather have his star forward fully healthy for the playoffs.
“We don’t want to rush everything because he might re-injure himself,” said Victolero after Magnolia’s 118-91 win over Alaska at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
“If Calvin won’t be back on Wednesday then he’ll return to us for the playoffs.”
The Hotshots, who hold a 9-1 record, are already secured of the top seed for the conference and will have a twice-to-beat advantage over the eighth-seeded team come the quarterfinals.
Their lone loss of the conference, a 103-101 defeat to NorthPort, didn’t feature Abueva and Victolero said the decision to have the do-it-all forward resides heavily on the team’s physical therapists.
“We talk to the PTs and if the PTs tell us that we need to rest Calvin for the last game then we’ll give it to him,” said Victolero. “What we want is for Calvin to return to us at full health, we’ll be patient with him.”