MANILA, Philippines - For one silly move, Calvin Abueva blew his bid for a rare back-to-back MVP crown in the NCAA.
The league yesterday suspended the top San Sebastian cager for one game and stripped him of a chance to repeat as league MVP for a disqualifying foul he committed during the Stags’ match with the Lyceum Pirates last Thursday.
“It’s a one-game suspension,” league commissioner Joe Lipa told The STAR, referring to the sanction on Abueva, who punched Lyceum’s Vence Laude at the back of the head during a scuffle with 6.08 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Stags eventually won the game, 83-75, but lost Abueva in their next game against the Arellano U Chiefs next Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.
The misconduct also cost Abueva the MVP plum this season as the unsportsmanlike act automatically disqualifies him from receiving any individual citations, including the coveted MVP award.
It was a sorry ending to Abueva’s stellar NCAA career after the energetic SSC guard helped propel SSC to the championship with a shock win over San Beda three years ago.
If not for the misconduct, Alaska’s No. 2 pick in the recent PBA draft would have handily won the MVP derby as he leads the current statistical race by a wide margin.
Instead, teammate Ian Sangalang, who is No. 2 in statistical points, now becomes the frontrunner in the MVP race.
“I kept telling him to just take it easy and keep it cool because the MVP award is his already,” said SSC coach Allan Trinidad, who took over from Topex Robinson, who resigned recently.
Abueva also slammed and shattered the acrylic locker door as he left the premises fuming.
“The contractor is still estimating the cost,” said Arena manager Lyn Manansala. “Yes, it will be charged to San Sebastian.”