Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero believes that Calvin Abueva will come back a better individual after facing the consequences of his actions.
The ‘Beast’ served his one-game ban on Friday when the Hotshots faced Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup, a punishment he was given alongside a P 10,000 fine due to unsportsmanlike conduct last Sunday against Ginebra.
He was also handed a disciplinary action by the ball club, although the champion mentor no longer divulged what exactly that was.
“He will be back stronger. Importante lang, natututo siya sa nangyayari sa kanya,” Victolero said moments after their 95-77 conquest of the Fuel Masters at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay for their third win of the conference.
Abueva was the talk of the town Sunday night that he actually overshadowed the Manila Clasico affair when he left the MoA Arena moments after being ejected for incurring his second technical foul of the game.
The 33-year-old was even caught on video shouting “Japan, Japan” while on his way out of the dugout, and even took to Instagram challenging the league to review the game tape and see what he did wrong but deleted it after.
He was booted out with just nine points and eight rebounds in the match, which the Hotshots managed to win by way of an 89-84 result.
The PBA Commissioner’s Office then took action immediately, and on Tuesday announced its sanctions on the reigning BPC.
Victolero understands that emotions could get the best of anyone at times including his prized forward, but says that the latter will surely learn from it,
“Sabi nga, lahat naman tayo dumadaan diyan, lahat tayo nagkakamali dala ng emotions sometimes. But you know, he will learn from that. I’ve talked to him.”
And, nothing much has changed with Abueva and Magnolia despite what happened, that even Victolero himself joked about the incident.
“Actually si Calvin nagpapahinga ngayon sa Gapan, sa Nueva Ecija siya. Nanonood siya ngayon,” he said, drawing laughter from the press.
“Kidding aside, he’s there, he’s in practice yesterday tsaka nung isang araw. Actually nagpakain pa nga si Calvin sa amin.”
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