The six-foot-two utility forward had a smile on his face the entire time. He tried to mask what he had gone through the past few days.
For the last three Gilas practices, the 29-year-old was a no-show. According to an Alaska Aces official who refused to be named, he also did not attend four straight practices a week ago. Moreover, Abueva had to leave the SMART-Araneta Coliseum prior to the tip-off of their game against the Blackwater Elite last Saturday, asking to be excused due to a “family problem”.
After Gilas’ fourth session, Abueva — who had been cut from the team last week — shed light on what was happening. In typical Calvin manner, he tried to express himself in a light-hearted way.
“Actually siyempre ‘di ko naman pwede sabihin na totoo sa inyo na lahat na lang,” he opened. “Sa akin is family problem yung nangyari kaya ‘di ako nakakalusot dito, ‘di ako nakakapunta tsaka sa management ko rin sa Alaska, siyempre nanghihingi rin ako ng dispensa sa mga nangyari sa akin.
“Kaya ngayon mas inuuna ko yung career ko ngayon para malinis ko kung ano meron ako ngayon.”
One of his sacrifices is not being able to join his brothers-in-arm at Gilas for their road game against Australia on February 22, and their home stand against Japan three days later. Abueva accepts the repercussions, saying that he will still help out the team.
“Ako actually, ‘di naman masakit sa akin na ‘di ako makakapaglaro dito eh,” the proud son of Angeles City shared. “Ang inaano ko lang makasama ako dito eh diba? Part pa rin ako ng Gilas family, kaya ito ako.
“Kahit na di ako makapaglaro dito sa game na to, at least andito ako nakasuporta.
“Marami pang window na puwede ako ipasok pero dito sa ano na to, siyempre nakakahiya naman sa mga nauna na nag-ensayo tapos bigla akong papasok. Parang unfair naman yun diba. Kaya ngayon ang ginagawa ko is nagpakita ako ngayon para i-prove ko sa kanila na andito parin ako at part parin ako ng Gilas,” he furthered.
Feeling rejuvenated, Abueva stressed that.
“Always na ko present dito sa practice dito. Di na ko problemado, wala na kong iniisip. Ayoko lang madamay itong team na ‘to kasi marami akong iniisip, magulo isip ko nun,” the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship silver medalist expressed.
“Kaya ngayon nagpapasalamat ako ito, single na.”
