PBA summons Abueva for 'Japan, Japan' remark

MANILA, Philippines — Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva may face possible sanction for his actions during and after the Hotshots’ game against Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he has summoned Abueva to his office today in the aftermath of the “Manila Clasico” game marred by the flamboyant player’s ejection and outburst.

Marcial declined to say what awaits “The Beast,” who was slapped a second technical foul for taunting and bumping Ginebra’s Nards Pinto early in the fourth quarter and was later captured by Spin.ph on video blurting, “Japan! Japan!”and “Bye, PBA!” on his way out of the MOA Arena.

“Pinatawag ko bukas (today), 1:30 p.m. Pakikinggan ko si Calvin. Tignan natin from there,” said the PBA commissioner.

Abueva might be asked what he meant by uttering those words on his way out at a time the PBA faces an exodus of players to the more lucrative Japan B. League. and Korean Basketball League.

Abueva latest outburst came 20 months after his infamous indefinite suspension was lifted. In June 2019, he was put in the freezer for “conduct unbecoming of a professional and actions detrimental to the league,” highlighted by a nasty clothesline foul on then TNT import Terrence Jones.

Magnolia, meanwhile, hopes to get the Season 46 Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference back into focus after the incident.

“Maybe frustrated lang si Calvin sa nangyari but we’ll move on and move forward from this,” said coach Chito Victolero, whose charges bucked the exit of Abueva to beat the Gin Kings, 89-84.

“Madali naman ngayong sabihan si Calvin, nakikinig siya,” said Ian Sangalang. “Nakita naman natin kung paano siya nagbago sa team na ito. Never siyang nawala, never siyang nag-absent. Naniniwala ako na kaya kong i-handle si Calvin.”

Magnolia needs all available hands on deck in its effort to climb out of 11th spot at 2-3, especially with Paul Lee still working his way to recovery from back spasms.

“I don’t know (when Lee is returning), maybe next game. But we will have Paul (back) kung 100 percent or at least 95 percent na siya. We don’t want to rush Paul,” said Victolero.