TIMELINE: The many controversies Calvin Abueva got involved in
From the time he was disqualified from the NCAA MVP race, Abueva has been a magnet for controversy
CALVIN Abueva’s P100,000 fine for a gesture mocking San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent, who lost one eye in a motorcyle accident, is just the latest in a long list of misdemeanors that saw him lose an MVP award while in college and many more in terms of wages and fines when he turned pro and joined the PBA.
Besides his verbal tussle with Gallent last Sunday after Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Abueva’s 36th birthday also saw him get involved in a spat with Mo Tautuaa’s wife Aida at the Mall of Asia Arena hallway.
Sadly, Sunday’s incidents were not the first controversies that the former balut vendor from Pampanga figured in. These certainly won’t be the last.
Below is a timeline of various offenses committed by Abueva:
DQ from NCAA MVP race due to ejection
Abueva, playing for San Sebastian, was expected to be crowned NCAA MVP in 2012, his final year in the collegiate league. But he was ejected from one game after an altercation with Lyceum’s Vence Laude where he threw a pounding motion using a closed fist. In the dugout, Abueva reportedly punched the glass door and broke it. His antics forced NCAA officials to disqualify him from winning the MVP award.
Indefinite suspension by Alaska
In June 2018, Abueva’s former team Alaska suspended him indefinitely for skipping practice for one week without informing the team. Despite the suspension, he continued to receive his salary. Abueva and Alaska won one championship together but eventually parted ways after six years when the player was traded to Phoenix.
Fined for lewd gesture
In May 2019, Abueva was fined P20,000 by Phoenix for a lewd act directed at Bobby Ray Parks’ former girlfriend Maika Rivera during the Fuel Masters game against Blackwater. In his defense, Abueva claimed he was provoked by Rivera.
Terrence Jones clothesline
On June 2, 2019, Abueva was ejected from the game for a clothesline incident against TNT’s Terrence Jones who was so upset teammates had hold him back from chasing Abueva. Prior to the incident, Abueva was seen complaining to the referee, claiming that Jones hit him in the groin. Abueva was fined P70,000 and suspended indefinitely for the Jones and Rivera incidents. Abueva’s suspension was lifted after 16 months and he was able to play during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup bubble in Clark.
‘Japan, Japan’
In June 2022, Abueva was fined P10,000 and suspended for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct during Magnolia’s game against Barangay Ginebra. He had two technical fouls and was caught spitting on the court and bumping Nards Pinto. Heading out of the Mall of Asia Arena without finishing the game, ‘The Beast’ was caught on video by SPIN.ph’s Gerry Ramos uttering the words ‘Japan, Japan’ and ‘Bye, PBA.’
