San Miguel big man Mo Tautuaa, left, and Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva during Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial jogged Calvin Abueva’s memory to teach him a lesson in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Right before the tip-off for Game 3 at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Marcial met with members of the media to bare his conversation with Abueva after his antics on Sunday merited him a whopping P100,000 fine for mocking San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent’s eyesight disability.
According to the commissioner, he reminded the Magnolia swingman about his lengthy indefinite ban from the PBA that stemmed from several incidents.
“Sinabihan ko siya. Sabi ko, “Calvin, ‘yung ugali mo ulit, aah? Kaya kita bin-an no’n dahil d’yan sa mga gestures na pinaggagagawa mo. Okay lang sa’kin ma-ano ka sa court pero tigilan mo ‘yung discrimination, antics, gestures at kung anu-anong ginagawa mo. Baka i-ban o i-suspend ka din ulit,’” Marcial said.
(I reminded him. I told him, “Calvin, that attitude of yours is showing again, huh? That’s why I banned you before, because of your gestures. It’s fine with me how you move inside the court but get rid of the discrimination, antics, gestures and other things. You might get banned or suspended again.)
“Comm. ‘di na mangyayari ulit (it won’t happen again),” replied Abueva, as recalled by Marical.
In Game 2, Abueva was on his way to the Hotshots’ bench at the 9:52 mark of the fourth quarter but not without passing by the Beermen’s bench to mock Gallent’s eyes.
Abueva was previously banned from the league in 2019 in a suspended that spanned 16 months.
This after he assaulted former TNT import Terrence Jones with a clothesline and had a heated argument with Ray Parks’ girlfriend at the time.
But mocking Gallent’s eyes wasn’t the only incident Abueva was involved in on Sunday as he also had a heated shouting match with Mo Tautuaa and his wife after the game.
For now, Marcial said Tautuaa’s wife and Abueva’s wife won’t be allowed to pass through the players’ tunnel in Araneta to avoid any more incidents.
“As of now, they won’t be able to pass through the south gate or the back entrance for MOA. For the game, we’re urging them not to go out right away,” explained Marcial.