by Jonas Terrado
Controversial Phoenix Pulse star Calvin Abueva is expected to submit a letter to the PBA Commissioner's Office on Monday, presumably to appeal his indefinite suspension for separate misconducts that rocked the league two weeks ago.
Abueva was banned indefinitely and fined P70,000 for making a lewd gesture at the girlfriend of Blackwater rookie Ray Parks Jr. followed by a clothesline hit on TNT KaTropa import Terrence Jones.
Calvin Abueva of Phoenix drives to the basket against TnT defenders. (PBA Images)
“Remorseful naman siya,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas after Saturday’s 78-76 win over Alaska at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Alam niya na mali siya and I think yun (letter) naman ata inaantay ni (PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial).”
Marcial earlier said that Abueva must undergo a lengthy process before the league decides to lift his suspension.
Among the conditions is for Abueva to publicly apologize to Parks’ girlfriend Maika Rivera during their exchange that marred Phoenix’s match against Blackwater last May 31 and to Jones for the hit in the team’s 114-88 defeat two days later.
The Fuel Masters’ victory over the Aces was the first since Abueva’s sanction.
Phoenix previously lost to Meralco (91-85) and Rain or Shine (89-82) in the first two games since the ban.
“Siyempre yung presence niya hinahanap namin,” said Alas, who likewise missed both games to serve a two-game suspension for his part in an earlier altercation against TNT and for criticizing league officials after that match.