Phoenix, Abueva sign 3-year contract

MANILA, Philippines — Phoenix Super LPG wasted little time retaining the services of Calvin Abueva after his sensational comeback in the recent PBA Philippine Cup.

Fuel Masters management signed Abueva to a fresh three-year contract worth P15 million yesterday as the rising squad tries to build on its gritty semifinal run in the All-Filipino bubble.

The 6-foot-3 Abueva played a key role for Phoenix in Clark upon his return from a 16-month suspension. He provided energy with his hustle plays, scoring, rebounding and assists – minus the old antics that got him in trouble last year. He also finished second in the statistical points race with 37.1 SPs.

Meanwhile, highly-touted Filipino-American point guard Jason Brickman bannered the initial list of applicants for the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft slated on March 14 next year.

The veteran facilitator officially threw his hat to the draft lottery yesterday along with San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas teammates Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jeremiah Gray, still a month away from the Jan. 27 deadline.

Andre Paras, son of the PBA’s only Rookie-MVP Benjie, also joined the sweepstakes after multiple stints in the D-League.

Other early birds include Matthew Kyle Sanchez of San Beda and Shem Kenneth Magallanes of Caybiga High School.

Brickman, 29, is poised to go high in the draft proceedings with a premium resume as one of the US NCAA all-time assist leaders for Long Island University-Brooklyn. He is also an ABL standout for Westports Malaysia, Mono Vampire and Alab.

Behind his solid averages of 8.9 points, 9.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds, he led Alab to second place in the ABL this year before the cancellation of the prestigious regional league due to the pandemic.

Back in 2016, he also teamed up with close pal and now Phoenix Super LPG star Matthew Wright in towing Malaysia Dragons to the ABL title.

Top guns Jamie Malonzo, Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, Larry Muyang and Franky Johnson among others are expected to formalize their entries after the holidays or early next year after initially declaring for the draft. – Olmin Leyba