PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial warned Calvin Abueva about facing another banishment should he get involved in another controversy.
The league chieftain issued the stern warning when the Magnolia forward appeared before his office following his actions during and after Game 2 of the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Sinabihan ko siya,” he told reporters prior to Game 3, Wednesday at the SMAT Araneta Coliseum.
“Sabi ko, ‘Calvin ‘yung ugali mo ulit ha, kaya kita binan noon dahil sa pinaggagawa mo.’ OK naman sa akin ‘yung maano ka sa court pero tigilan mo ‘yung discrimination, antics, and gestures. Baka i-ban kita ulit diyan, o i-suspend … tandaan mo lang.”
Abueva was fined P100,000 for mocking the physical disability of San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent early in the fourth quarter of Game 2, which saw the Beermen score a 109-85 rout to take a 2-0 lead in the race-to-4 bout.
League rules say “any person who offends the dignity of any person on account of ‘physical disability’ shall be subject to a fine not lower than P 100,000.”
The veteran mentor lost his right eye in a motorcycle accident in 1988.
It was also on that same night when the two-time BPC got into a shouting match with the wife of Mo Tautua’a while on his way out of the venue.
Abueva’s wife got involved in the incident that saw the 36-year-old challenge his former Gilas teammate to a fistfight although no such thing happened.
Abueva, though, had already apologized to Gallent and was able to talk things out with Tautua’a after the both of them got summoned to the league’s office.
“Sinabi ni Calvin ‘yun. Sabi niya, ‘Comm, pupuntahan ko si Coach Gallent sa game bukas, talagang magso-sorry ako.’ Sinabi ni Calvin ‘yun,” said Marcial.
Still, the whole brouhaha reminded many of Abueva’s antics in 2019 that led to what became a 16-month suspension. He got banned for his obscene gestures towards Ray Parks’ girlfriend and his clothesline on Terrence Jones.
Thus, the reminder from Marcial to the Kapampangan star, who went through counseling, seminars by the Games and Amusements Board, and various outreach programs as part of the conditions set to earn his reinstatement.
“Tandaan mo lang, sinasabi ko lang. OK naman daw siya, hindi na raw mauulit,” said the amiable executive.
“Sige. Tingnan natin.”
