WATCH: Abueva needs clearance from GAB to return to PBA

Phoenix Fuel Masters head coach Louie Alas bared that suspended forward Calvin Abueva will have to get the approval of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the sanctioning body of professional sporting events, in order to be able to return to the PBA.

 

Abueva was suspended indefinitely by the PBA more than a month ago after a clothesline on TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones. He was also slapped with a hefty amount of fines.

“Ngayon ko lang nalaman na kailangan sumulat ni Calvin about sa lahat ng nangyari sa (scuffle with Jones),” said Alas to media reporters on Wednesday night. “Dapat napadala na yan dahil kung papasok tayo sa playoffs, at least si Calvin naka-practice na sa atin.”

The Fuel Masters were defeated by the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday, 128-108 and dropped to 4-6 in the team standings of the on-going 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

Alas is still hopeful Abueva could rejoin Phoenix especially if they are to make the playoffs, calling it a high-risk, high-reward gamble.

“Kahit ma-reinstate na siya, yung katawan niya, not game shape … pero Calvin is Calvin eh. So hopefully,” said Alas.

The mentor added Abueva has already drafted a letter addressed to the chairman of GAB.

It can also be remembered that two days before Abueva’s melee with Jones, the enigmatic Phoenix forward figured in a verbal altercation with Maika Rivera, the girlfriend of Blackwater’s Ray Parks Jr. in the aftermath of Phoenix and Blackwater’s game, where Abueva allegedly committed indecent gestures.

Phoenix has gone 3-5 without Abueva. In his only two games in the conference, Abueva put up 14.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG.