BY JEREMIAH SEVILLA
SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – TNT guard Ray Parks Jr. belied Phoenix forward Calvin Abueva’s story that they are now in good terms following an outrageous incident last year.
In a now-deleted Instagram story and Twitter post late Thursday night, Parks refuted Abueva’s claims.
“Never in my life did I say, ‘It’s okay, keep up what you’re doing. I wish you’re gonna come back soon,'” said the 27-year-old second generation player.
In an episode of Sports Page on Tuesday, Abueva said he apologized to Parks in a chance meeting at the Quest Hotel for an incident involving the latter’s girlfriend that was declared as one of the two reasons for his 16-month suspension.
“Nagkita kami at nabanggit ko na, ‘Hey bro, sorry for the past few years na nangyari,” said Abueva.
Abueva also said in the television show that Parks even expressed support for his PBA return.
“Sabi niya, ‘It’s okay, keep up what you’re doing. I wish you’re gonna come back soon,” added Abueva. “‘Thank you. bro,’ sabi ko.”
Parks claimed he never said that.
The former PBA D-League champion and MVP also showed his ire against the publications that ran the story of Abueva.
“Look. I’m just pissed off that people would publish something that never came out my mouth! I’m not mad about the comeback, I’m pissed off about the damn lie!”
Their animosity started when Abueva made an obscene gesture to Parks’ girlfriend Maika Rivera in a game pitting Phoenix and Blackwater, which still had Parks during that time.
Coupled with his clothesline hit on TNT import Terrence Jones, the 31-year-old cager from Angeles City was slapped with an indefinite suspension on top of a hefty fine.