Calvin Abueva is looking forward to facing one of his closest pals in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Magnolia and San Miguel.
The ‘Beast’ is ready to play against Terrence Romeo for a championship for the first time in their careers.
And this match-up adds yet another colorful chapter to a deep friendship that all began while serving the flag and country.
“Yes, first time namin maglalaban sa Finals,” the veteran forward said shortly after the pre-Finals presser, Thursday at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.
“Sana maibigay namin ‘yung best namin dito sa championship.”
Both stars share a lot of history with Gilas Pilipinas, having fought alongside each other in numerous battles here and abroad.
The duo’s biggest achievement wearing the national colors, undeniably, was a silver-medal finish in the FIBA Asia Championship 2015 in Changsha, China.
Abueva and Romeo were supposed to play for the Philippine team in the 19th Asian Games.
However, the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee denied the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ appeal to add their names to the pool.
It may take some time for the two to wear Gilas jerseys and so the focus for now is with their mother teams, both of them motivated to score gold once more.
While Romeo is gunning for his third title, Abueva himself is looking for his second. He won his first and lone gold thus far with Alaska in 2013.
But before thinking too far ahead, what the 35-year-old forward really hopes is to see the three-time scoring king return to action first and foremost.
Romeo could miss some games in the best-of-7 affair due to an ankle injury he suffered prior to their semifinal series versus Ginebra.
“Sana, makapaglaro. Sana makalaban siya.”
