Magnolia coach tells Abueva: Stay focused

MANILA, Philippines — Stay focused like you did in the PBA bubble.

That’s the primary thing Magnolia coach Chito Victolero is asking from Calvin Abueva, who was traded by the Phoenix Fuel Masters to the Hotshots in exchange for guard Chris Banchero and a couple of draft picks.

“I told him to just continue what I saw him (do) in the bubble, your focus, your non-reaction to calls, no more second motion,” Victolero said in Filipino during yesterday’s “The Chasedown” program on Cignal TV.

“Gawin niya lang yun and I think he’ll be okay,” he added.

Abueva made a successful comeback from a 16-month suspension during the last Philippine Cup. “The Beast” unleashed a more controlled version of his old self, shedding away the on-court behavior and antics that got him in trouble before.

Victolero is convinced there’s a high reward to be had in getting what many considered a “high-risk” player.

“There’s always a risk-reward in everything. That’s our job as coaches and management (handling it),” he said.

“I think mas mataas (higher) ang reward kesa (than) risk, eh. ‘Yun ‘yung being positive. Even if ‘yung situation is negative, pwedeng maging positive ‘yun eh,” said Victolero, keeping his fingers crossed that Abueva will be as good as the Hotshots want him to be.