After years of settling for nothing, Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva finally received a Best Player of the Conference distinction Friday shortly before Game Four of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Alaska and Rain or Shine.
Abueva, who is averaging 17.2 PPG and 7.6 RPG in the conference, said the moment was special.
“Solid talaga. Pag banggit ng pangalan ko, naluha ako,” Abueva said.
Yet the energetic Aces forward said he is focusing more on bigger goals, and is thankful as his team was able to win Game 4, 111-99 to force at least another match.
“Nagpapasalamat ako na na-extend pa ang series. Alam ko namang hindi nila agad-agad matatapos yun. Pero siyempre, determined kami na manalo, kaya ito, (buhay pa),” he said.
“Mas maganda championship kaysa makakuha ng award.”
Such mindset is a testament to how far Abueva has grown as a player and as a pedestal to the Aces’ success ever since the franchise drafted him.
“Calvin is our initiator in so many different ways. I have not seen somebody throw his body the way he does,” Aces head coach Alex Compton said of his all-star forward.
“I am really happy for him. He worked so hard, he has accomplished much. I am happy about his growth. He has developed his three-point shot, he is making better decisions, some good passes, he is sharing the ball more, understanding the ways that will help the team.”
It was clear Abueva did not want his award to just be something to make up for a disappointing series for the Aces so far. So he worked just as hard in Game Four, dropping eight points in the first quarter alone to lead the Aces to victory. Abueva finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and was a plus-8 in the win.
“I am just proud. Clearly, we are not in the finals without him,” Compton added.
With the Aces still alive in the series, Abueva vowed the Game Four win won’t be the last for the squad. He added the Aces are slowly figuring things out, and all they have to do is to exert the same effort–or even better–the next time out.
“Siyempre hindi ko iniisip yung award, ang iniisip ko yung panalo. Nakuha ko nga yung panalo, hindi pa naman yun yung una at huli. May Game Five pa, Game Six, Game Seven,” he said.
“Game Five, mas dodoblehin pa namin sipag namin. Inaasam (namin) yung 3-1 kanina. Kami naman comeback talaga so determinasyon pa. Umaangat na depensa namin, nakukuha na namin yung kung ano ang gusto nila gawin. Mas aangat pa (laro namin) sa Game Five.”
