Kung energy ang paguusapan, wala nang tutumbas pa kay Calvin Abueva.
So energetic was Abueva, who has nearly played non-stop basketball for the past two years .
He has played in almost all levels of competition – be it the PBA, the FIBA Asia Championship, the William Jones Cup tournament and the FIBA 3 x 3 World Tour. His team, Alaska, has figured in the finals series four times over the last two years, until an injury forced then Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin not to include The Beast in the final roster of the national team to the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.
Pero hindi pa rin natitinag si Abueva at hindi siya nanghihinayang na makipagkumpetensiya sa mas bata at mga kasing agrisibong player na katulad niya.
“Masarap pa ring maglaro talaga sa Gilas. Walang inggitan dito,” Abueva told pba.ph.
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On Gilas Pilipinas’ first practice session in the metropolis, Abueva showed up and competed with young frontliners, among them Mac Belo, Norbert Torres, Von Pessumal, Carl Cruz, Bradwyn Guinto, Raymond Almazan, Fonso Gotladera and Kevin Ferrer.
But Abueva believes cracking the line up won’t be an easy task as he has to work his way in making it to the final 12 for the SEABA Men’s Championship this May.
Paano nga ba naghahanda si Abueva?
“Kukuha ka talaga ng slot dyan sa 24. Maski hindi mo sabihin, hindi mo ibibigay yung slot mo. Paghihirapan mo yan,” added Abueva.
“Dahil mga bata mga kasama namin dapat mas maging aggressive kami. “Maraming bata, mas mataas yung energy. Mga wala pang experience yung ibang bata dito pero sige lang sila nang sige.”
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For Abueva, the direction coach Chot Reyes to get young players is a good ploy as they will train together for the next three years. Gilas Pilipinas will need to win the SEABA Men’s Championship first here in Manila in order to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup, formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship.
The FIBA Asia Cup will determine the qualifiers for the six-window, home and away tournaments leading to the 2019 World Cup.
Mahaba-haba pa ang lalakbayin ng Gilas Pilipinas pero handa si Abueva na mapabilang sa koponan.
“Maganda yung ginagawa ni Coach Chot (Reyes), bagay na bagay sa mga bata na wala nang play-play. Basta laro lang ng laro,” added Abueva.
Andrei Villanueva
