He may already be 37 years old, but Calvin Abueva showed that “The Beast” can still be unleashed.
Abueva stood tall for the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, towing the newest PBA team to a 100-96 victory over the Meralco Bolts in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup matchup Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Abueva scored a career-high 41 points on an efficient 14-of-27 shooting from the floor, to go with seven rebounds and an assist.
‘Pinupursige ko itong paglalaro kasi actually, basketball, yan alng ang kinakabuhay natin e. Pero in my age, kailangan kong pukpukin to kasi meron e, meron at meron pa. Meron at merong ilalabas pa,’ Abueva told reporters after the game.
Abueva, though, admitted that his offensive outburst was ‘unexpected.”
He added that while he is already 37, he will not show any weaknesses as he aims to repay the trust Titan head coach Johnedel Cardel and the coaching staff is giving him.
‘Siyempre, yung tiwala niya, tiwala ng mga coaches, tiwala sa akin ng management, tiwala ng mga teammates sa akin, andoon,’ he said.
‘And, yun nga, binigay ko na yung best ko para masukulian yan.’
After a 0-11 start in the game, the Giant Risers trinmed the deficit and eventually took the lead in the second quarter, 31-30, after consecutive free throws by Abueva.
With the former San Sebastian Stag leading the way in the third quarter, Titan erected a 76-63 lead heading into the fourth frame.
A 3-pointer by the 14-year PBA veteran, then, helped the Giant Risers mount their biggest advantage of the night, 90-71, with 6:49 remaining.
But a massive 20-3 run by the Bolts kept them within striking distance, 91-94, before finishing touches by Jeo Ambohot, Jerick Balanza and Joshua Munzon iced the game.
Still, Abueva tipped his hat to his team for his performance.
‘Sabi nga ni coach namin, maraming champion team diyan sa PBA. And bago lang itong Titan. First win ngayon, and lahat kami excited maglaro, maglaro ng first game and nabigay nga namin itong laro na ito,’ Abueva said.
‘And yun nga, ang ganda ng run namin, lahat kami tumatakbo and pinush talaga namin ito eh. Kasi, lalo na ako, mga bata kasama ko, kailangan ko i-push yung sarili ko, at least para makasabay. Eh, yung sabay ko pala, mas na effort ko pa pala yung energy ko against sa kanila,’ he added.
‘Kaya, siguro yung 41 points na yun, hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi ko makukuha yun.’
Cardel, for his part, said his veteran forward’s heart is very evident in the victory, as they clawed out of an early 11-0 deficit in the first quarter.
‘Sinabi ko sa [team,] we had a bad game on the first half. We were outrebounded. Then, errors, marami kami. Pagdating ng second half, third quarter, yan, sinwerte na kami, binago na nila yung attitude, and yung pasensya sa offense, inikot na yung bola,’ Cardel told reporters after the game.
‘Then, we took advantage of Calvin. Kasi doon lang kami pwedeng umiskor. The other players, maganda ang depensa, but Calvin, kilala naman natin yan kung gaano kalakas yung katawan niya at puso niya. Talagang ‘The Beast’ e,’ he added.
The Giant Risers will be returning to action on Saturday, October 11, against the Converge FiberXers at the Ynares Montalban.