MANILA, Philippines — Practice player or active player, suspended Calvin Abueva is willing to play any role for Phoenix Super LPG in the PBA bubble in Clark.
In the freezer for nearly 16 months now, the controversial forward has joined the Fuel Masters in the bubble hub, hoping to get reinstated in time for next Sunday’s Philippine Cup restart.
“When he came in here, he’s willing to do whatever he can for the team,” Phoenix coach Topex Robinson said in The Chasedown program on One Ph.
“Obviously everybody wants him to play but that aspect is not within our control and what we have control of is to prepare ourselves to compete, whether Calvin will play or not,” he added.
Although under suspension, Abueva has been given the greenlight by the PBA to sweat it out with Phoenix, which started 5-on-5 scrimmages in Clark last week.
As expected, the 32-year-old cager was a bundle of energy in the sessions.
“He’s making a big impact. What you see him doing during games, he’s also doing in practices, he’s all over the place, challenges everybody,” said Robinson.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said Abueva still has remaining requirements to complete before the league signs off on his reinstatement. He has previously gotten a favorable response from the Games and Amusements Board, which decided to “reinstate” his professional license subject to a seminar and a mandatory drug test.
It’s not immediately known if it’s possible for him to get the required procedures completed inside the Clark bubble.