The ‘Beast’ unburdens Gilas woes

BOLOGNA – Suddenly, he was a “beast of burden.”

Calvin Abueva, known in the local cagedom as “The Beast,” let go of all the emotional and psychological burdens he had to carry through their European training the day he was cut from the final list of the Gilas Pilipinas.

“Tol, alam mo mabait akong tao pero malalim ako magdamdam (Brod I’m a kind person, but I feel deeply when I’m wronged),” said Abueva, in tears, as recounted by Sports5 correspondent Carlo Pamintuan.

Abueva was a mainstay with the Nationals in past major events where he had shown the courage and the guts to either absorb pain or inflict one during rugged play – the hallmark of international competition.

Devastated over coach Tab Baldwin’s  decision not to include him in the final roster, Abueva gave away his jerseys and practice apparel to fans in the hotel and walked the streets of Bologna all night until the sun beat down hard on him.

“Ramdam ko lahat ngayon. Yung sakit ng katawan, yung pagod, yung miss mo yung pamilya mo (I feel everything now – the aches and pains, the fatigue and being away from my family),” said Abueva, quoted by Pamintuan in his Gilas diary.

“Dati kasi iniisip ko lang para sa bayan naman. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman lahat (Before, I was focused on doing this for the country. I feel everything now),” Abueva added.

The Alaska Milk workhorse felt he would miss the bus to the FIBA Olympic qualifier in Manila on July 5-10 when he was fielded by Baldwin with the least minutes (4:04) in their game against Italy.

“I sensed it although I knew deep in my heart that I gave it all. Lahat naman binigay ko pero kulang pala ( I dished it out all but didn’t realize it wasn’t enough),” said Abueva, among the biggest fan favorites in the Gilas team in last year’s Jones Cup and in the succeeding FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China.

In fact, for his energy, grit and guts, Abueva was deemed by many as shoo-in in Gilas 4.0.

Former Gilas coach Chot Reyes said Baldwin might have put premium on height in his decision to cut Abueva and Tenorio.

Baldwin’s last four choices over Abueva and Tenorio were Jeff Chan, Bobby Ray Parks, Ryan Reyes and Troy Rosario. The first four were Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, June Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood, followed by Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Terrence Romeo and Marc Pingris.

Abueva eventually accepted the decision and said he would concentrate now on his duties with  his PBA team. “It hurts, but I have to accept it. At least, I can now focus again on my PBA team,” he said.

Meanwhile, LA Tenorio vowed to stick it out the moment he learned he missed the Gilas Pilipinas final cut.

“Ako si LA Tenorio lumaban at patuloy na lalaban para sa Pilipinas! (I’m LA Tenorio. I fought and will continue to fight for the Philippines!) Puso!” Tenorio posted on his Twitter account.