Willie Marcial hopes Calvin Abueva does final ‘requirement’ ASAP

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial remained firm on his stance regarding Calvin Abueva’s reinstatement in the league. 

The amiable executive said that the enigmatic forward still has to fulfill the requirements asked of him before they evaluate his return.

“May pinapagawa kaming requirements sa kanya.

“‘Pag natapos niya ‘yun, ie-evaluate namin, so dun ako makakapag-desisyon kung papaano,” Marcial said in Tuesday’s PSA Forum, which is presented by San Miguel Corp., Go-For-Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and powered by SMART.

It has been a year since the Phoenix forward received an indefinite suspension from the league due to two separate incidents in the early goings of the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

The first involved alleged gestures made towards Ray Parks’ girlfriend; meanwhile, the second was his clothesline hit on TNT import Terrence Jones just days later.

Aside from the suspension, Abueva was slapped with a hefty fine that amounted to P 70,000.

Since then, however, Abueva has been trying his best to prove that he has become a changed man. He has issued a public apology, and become active in corporate social responsibility activities.

And just last February, Marcial said that Abueva was already on the second stage of the undisclosed conditions they have talked about.

Unfortunately, though, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country, causing the league to suspend all of its activities last March 11.

Abueva’s accomplishment of the requirements has also been placed on hold.

“Na-hold e, na-hold dahil dito sa COVID e,” said Marcial. “So siguro ‘pag ito, baka dahan-dahan magagawa niya ‘yung requirements namin.

“The sooner, the better.”

Abueva, meanwhile, has been active in the Fuel Masters’ efforts of helping those affected by the virus and those serving in the frontlines as well.

In fact, the food packs which Phoenix donated in its recent donation drive were cooked in his restaurant, Dampa Ni The Beast, in San Juan City.

Abueva will be the guest of Tiebreaker Vods’ 2OT presented by SMART on Saturday, June 13 at 4:30 pm.