Alaska Aces head coach Alex Compton wants nothing but the best for Calvin Abueva, as their franchise player is apparently wrestling with personal issues yet again.
Compton confirmed the story published by Tiebreaker Times on Saturday afternoon, that the 30-year-old has yet to report to team practices since the PBA All-Star Week ended last Sunday.
Abueva was last seen on Sunday in Iloilo City, playing for the SMART All-Star National Team. He poured in 41 points and 27 rebounds but it all went for naught as they lost to Visayas, 157-141.
“Calvin, if you’re watching, I hope you’re okay,” said Compton after their 109-103 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier, their fifth straight win. “He didn’t show up to practice since the All-Star break.
“We’ve been reaching out from where he is. He’s been going through personal issues, but yeah, we just hope he’s safe and alright and I don’t actually have a whole lot of info other than that.”
This is now the second time that Abueva has gone an an absence for Alaska. The first time it happened was just in the previous conference, as he tried to sort things out between him and his wife.
And just as Compton said during that time, he and the team understands Abueva’s situation, that there truly is more to life than just dribbling a basketball.
“We’ve tried connecting but I think he’s sorting things out in his life… Life is bigger than basketball,” said the veteran mentor. “It’s our profession, we love it, but it’s not the meaning of life.
“Life’s bigger than the game,” Compton pointed out.
“As much as I love this game and I don’t know there’s anybody in this room who loves the game more than I do, life’s much bigger.”
