Abueva finally shows up at Gilas practice

Calvin Abueva. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Just a week removed from the national team pool, Calvin Abueva made a shock appearance in Gilas Pilipinas’ fourth Monday evening practice at Meralco Gym.

Alaska’s energizer bunny showed up for the first time to join the squad, but it’s unclear if he has already hashed things out with Reyes.

Last week, Reyes announced that he decided to cut Abueva along with Raymond Almazan for the second window of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers for missing the first three practices.

Unlike Abueva, Almazan did not show up as he was the lone absentee from the current pool.

Jayson Castro bannered the 34 men who participated in the session, together with current pool members Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Allein Maliksi, Kevin Alas, Roger Pogoy, Jio Jalalon, Mac Belo, Matthew Wright, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Kiefer Ravena.

June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, who both had games on Sunday, sat out the session.

Also making his first appearance is “23-for-23” cadet and Ateneo Blue Eaglet Kai Sotto.

Present from the cadet pool were Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, Matt Nieto, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon, Paul Desiderio, Juan Gomez de Liaño, J-Jay Alejandro, Abu Tratter, Jeo Ambohot, Arvin Tolentino, Kenneth Tuffin, and Will Gozum.

Joshua Sinclair, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Ricci Rivero also watched the practice at the sidelines.

Nigerians Ola Adeogun and Eugene Toba of San Beda and Chibueze Ikeh of Ateneo also helped in the preparations.

The Philippines will take on Australia at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne on February 22, before flying back home to battle Japan at Mall of Asia Arena on February 25.