If the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) deems that the suspended Calvin Abueva has indeed become a changed man, worthy of regaining his professional license, Sen. Bong Go is all for it.
The politician expressed as much during Tuesday afternoon’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance regarding the proposed 2021 budget of the GAB and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Kung sa tingin po ninyo ay nagbagong buhay na siya, at mangangako po siya na talagang maglalaro to entertain the Filipinos, susuportahan ko po na maibalik sa kanya ‘yung kanyang license,” said the Senate Health and Sports Committee chair.
Abueva, 32, has been serving his suspension for 15 months now — the longest in PBA history — following several on-court incidents last year, including his clothesline hit on TNT import Terrence Jones.
But he has eagerly shown that he has learned from his mistakes; that he deserves another shot by completing the requirements as asked, such as psychological therapy sessions and drug tests.
Then just this Monday, in a tweet by GAB Chairman Baham Mitra, the Kapampangan cager has begun attending GAB’s online seminar on “Code of Conduct of a Professional Player and Gender Sensitivity Issues”.
Abueva is doing so while inside the PBA’s bubble mounted at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, where the league is continuing its pandemic-interrupted Season 45 this Sunday.
Go admitted that he has long been a fan of Abueva’s game due to his explosiveness on the court. And now, he hopes that the eight-year pro out of San Sebastian has gotten over the shenanigans.
“Paalala lang po sa kanya na pwedeng maglaro siya na talagang laro. Wala ‘yung intention to hurt, wala ‘yung intention to provoke, ‘yung pinipikon niya ‘yung ibang players para masira ‘yung paglalaro ng ibang mga atleta,” he said.
Go advised Mitra to relay his reminders to Abueva, who is hoping to see his suspension lifted by the league soon and be allowed to play for Phoenix Super LPG in the upcoming 2020 Philippine Cup.
“Paki-paalala lang po sa kanya na tayo’y maglaro ng basketball at sport lang, walang sakitan. ‘Wag siya mamikon at sisirain niya lang ‘yung laro ng mga kalaban,” he said.
“Pakiusap, iparating mo ‘yan sa kanya. Kasi kung hindi, sabihin ko kay Pangulong Duterte, mag-import ng mga DDS sa Davao para disipilinahin,” he added in jest.
