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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider True to his promise, Abueva delivered when it mattered

True to his promise, Abueva delivered when it mattered

Published Nov 20, 2020 11:09 pm
Calvin Abueva of Phoenix provided an all-around effort against TNT in Game Two of their semifinals series. (PBA Images)

SMART CLARK GIGA CITY--With Matthew Wright still hobbled by injury, Calvin Abueva stayed true to his promise to step up for Phoenix Super LPG. 

Abueva came through with a huge 20-point, 15-rebound double-double as the Fuel Masters downed the Tropang Giga, 110-103, to tie their best-of-five PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at 1-1 on Friday night at the AUF Arena. 

The energetic 32-year-old bruiser also drew the sixth foul of Ray Parks Jr., who erupted for 41 points built on 10 triples before going out of the court with 4:59 left in the game and TNT only ahead by two, 92-90. 

It was a timely effort for the now different "The Beast" as main gunner Wright was only able to play for 15 minutes and score two points due to his nagging right ankle injury he sustained early in Phoenix's slim 95-92 loss in Game One. 

"It's always a joy to see Calvin be a different beast right now. He knows that Matt is not 100-percent and he just kept on promising (to step up)," said Phoenix head coach Topex Robinson of Abueva, who missed the Fuel Masters' first five games in the bubble as he was still suspended during that time. 

"When he wasn't there, Matt was there for him. And heto ngayon, nawala si Matt so siya naman ang babawi," added the 45-year-old mentor. 

Robinson bared that Wright, the frontrunner for the bubble MVP should the league award that, is in a day-to-day situation. 

"Actually, Matthew is a day-to-day. We're just happy that he was able to play. Ang laki ng improvement ng swelling ng paa niya eh. Sabi nga namin if we could get this (Game 2) at least we know he could be 100-percent come Game 4," he said.  

"As of now, if we could keep him, not gamble on him getting hurt again, I think that's big for us." 

The first-year PBA head coach also said the team dedicated the win to the Fil-Canadian wingman. 

"Matt wants to extend the series and we really offer this game to Matt. We were telling him not to play but he said he wants to play so we want to honor him. It's a big win for us to get our bearings back and hopefully we could prolong the series." 

Related Tags

Calvin Abueva PBA bubble Angeles University Foundation TNT Tropang Giga Topex Robinson Matthew Wright Phoenix Fuel Masters PBA Philippine Cup
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