Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero is glad to have Calvin Abueva back in the fold after missing his services due to a PBA-imposed one-game banishment.
The ‘Beast’ returned to action on Wednesday night against NorthPort and hardly missed a beat to help the Hotshots get into the win column again after back-to-back losses, much to the satisfaction of the champion bench tactician.
Abueva finished with six points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and a block in nearly 30 minutes in their 104-97 victory.
“We missed him,” said Victolero during the postgame presser at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “The last time, they played small so ‘di kami maka-match up.”
The former cager turned mentor was referring to their game against NLEX last Saturday, where Abueva served the suspension imposed by the league for unsportsmanlike behavior in their game against Ginebra last March 31.
They missed his energy against the Road Warriors, where they started out flat and eventually fell to an 87-74 result. It was their second loss in a row.
Undermanned were the Hotshots in that outing as they also didn’t have wingers Rome dela Rosa and Aris Dionisio due to ankle injuries.
“Actually, we missed three guys. Those guys — Aris, Rome, and Calvin — can play multiple positions,” said the 48-year-old offered.
“That’s why we had a hard time matching up against NLEX because of that. Talagang hirap kami. At the same time nga, ‘di rin kami mabuo sa ensayo.”
Magnolia continues to miss both Dela Rosa and Dionisio but having Abueva back is already a major boost for a crew looking to get their mojo back.
“Good thing na si Calvin naka-step up ngayon, nakatulong siya sa team. Hopefully magtuloy-tuloy,” said Victolero.
Especially given how tough the competition has become in this conference, with teams like the Batang Pier and Terrafirma doing better than expected.
“All of the teams right now are improving — the Terrafirmas, the Blackwaters; NLEX, NorthPort,” he said.
“Maganda for the PBA, maganda for the fans.
“‘Yung competition talagang sobrang ganda, you don’t expect sino mananalo. ‘Yung competition sobrang tight, ganda ng labanan. Even the first game, kita niyo naman, talagang dikit. ‘Yan ang PBA,” he added.
