PBA: Abueva, Parks girlfriend in heated word exchange

By Kevin Sox

The Phoenix Fuel Masters had a successful debut in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup as they beat the previously undefeated Blackwater Elite, 103-98 last Friday.

But the spotlight was stolen in an unfortunate manner, as Fuel Masters forward Calvin Abueva and Maika Rivera, girlfriend of Elite rookie Ray Parks Jr., figured in a heated verbal exchange which included both expletives and lewd gestures.

As per ESPN5, Parks relayed that Abueva called Rivera a b—h, and did a gesture mimicking jacking off in front of Parks’ girlfriend.

“That’s messed up. You don’t do that to any fan, let alone somebody that I care about,” said Parks.

“I understand he plays with antics and plays with people’s minds, but why can’t he do that to me? Why would he go off to the side of the court, to nobody that had nothing to do and literally call that person a b—h?”

Parks mentioned he did not see the exchange in real time, and that he would have been “thrown out” had he seen Abueva did the gesture to Rivera.

Abueva shared his side of the issue, claiming that Rivera went first, and cursed at him while also calling him a derogatory term.

“She did something foul as well. Just because we are players, doesn’t mean she can hurl words against me. She told me when I fouled out, ‘F–k you, get out of here.'”

Abueva added Rivera called him a “monkey.”

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has already sent an apology to Parks and Rivera.

The Phoenix ball club also fined Abueva P20,000 for this role in the heated exchange, as per Rappler.com.

Marcial will summon Abueva to the PBA Commissioner’s Office next week.