Phoenix not allowed to include Calvin Abueva to PBA bubble contingent

Calvin Abueva was not allowed by the PBA to be included in Phoenix Super LPG’s delegation for the planned season restart in Clark, Pampanga.

The 32-year-old was initially listed in the team’s 25-man delegation for the bubble with the hopes that he would be reinstated in the league.

“After clarifying, because of Calvin’s current status, we can only submit a 24-man lineup at the moment,” team manager Paolo Bugia wrote in a text message to Tiebreaker Times, Thursday afternoon.

Abueva remains suspended for over a year now due to a pair of controversial on-court incidents back in July of last year.

Although he had claimed earlier that he has accomplished all the requirements the league asked him to do, Commissioner Willie Marcial said that there remains a process before he could return.

The league has kept firm on its stance even if online talk sparked that Abueva is nearing a return following his Instagram posts shortly after the league announced that it would continue Season 45 in a bubble set-up.

Still, the Phoenix organization keeps its fingers crossed that the league will decide on Abueva’s fate before the season opener.

“We are still awaiting final word from the PBA and still hopeful a decision will come before the opening,” Bugia wrote.