It was a rousing PBA Philippine Cup debut for league newcomer Titan Ultra with Calvin Abueva scoring a career-high 41 points in 35:04 minutes as the Giant Risers rose to the occasion in beating Meralco, 100-96, at Ynares Antipolo last Wednesday. But with The Beast tallying only two points in 4:47 minutes due to a hamstring strain in Titan’s second game, coach Johnedel Cardel’s troops couldn’t hold the fort and the Risers fell to Converge, 129-92, at Ynares Montalban last Saturday.
Titan’s next assignment is Magnolia at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday and Cardel’s hoping Abueva will be back in full battle gear. ‘First quarter pa lang injury na si Calvin at nawala energy ng team,’ said Cardel, referring to Abueva’s early exit against Converge. ‘Di namin ma-stop sina (Justin) Arana at (Justine) Baltazar. Outrebounded kami. Tapos malas mga field goals namin. Laking kawalan si Calvin. May pumitik sa hamstring niya at di namin pwinersa pumasok uli. Tingin ko, makakalaro against Magnolia.’
After Titan bought NorthPort’s franchise, the Risers underwent a major overhaul, striking out nine players from last season’s roster and bringing in six veterans and three rookies. The freshmen are Chris Koon, Arvie Bringas and Mario Barasi. When the MPBL season ends, Titan draft pick CJ Austria will check in. The veterans who jumped aboard were Aljun Melecio, Ato Ular, Jeo Ambohot, Von Pessumal, James Martinez and Roi Sumang.
It was team owner Bryann Calantoc who brought in Cardel who previously coached Terrafirma and GlobalPort. ‘Yung uncle ni Boss Bryann kasama ko sa GlobalPort kaya naisipan nila kunin akong coach,’ said Cardel. ‘Malaki natutunan ko sa Terrafirma, doon ko natutunan kung paano mag-motivate ng players, paano mag-develop players at coaches to share ideas para manalo.’
Cardel’s goal is to qualify for the quarterfinals. ‘We’ll see anong next step after that,’ he said. In Titan’s first-ever win, Cardel said he let Abueva loose to do his thing. ‘Hinayaan ko maglaro si Calvin kung anong komportable sa kaniya,’ he said. ‘Nakikita ko sa practice na malaki ang improvement niya sa tira sa labas.’ Abueva was on fire in leading Titan’s charge, hitting four of seven threes, nine of 10 free throws and 14 of 27 from the floor in becoming only the eighth active player to net at least 40 points in a game after June Mar Fajardo, Don Trollano, Robert Bolick, RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome and Stanley Pringle.