By REYNALD MAGALLON
Calvin Abueva was slapped with a one-game suspension and 20,000 pesos fine after getting embroiled in yet another controversy.
The embattled Magnolia forward was caught on camera flashing his middle finger towards a fan late in the opening quarter of the Hotshots’ 87-77 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Sunday, March 31.
Although the gesture didn’t lead to any consequences for Abueva during the contest, stills of the incident, immediately went viral in social media after the game, prompting PBA commissioner Willie Marcial to summon the Magnolia star on Wednesday, April 3.
The sanction is effective in Magnolia’s next game against NLEX on Saturday, April 6.
Marcial said that Abueva was apologetic during the meeting but explained that he only responded to the foul words hurled at him by the fan
“Nagmeeting kami kanina, alam niya na mali siya. Mali siya na ginawa niya iyon. Humihingi siya ng paumanhin sa nangyari,” said Marcial.
“Fan iyon sabi niya comm napikon lang kasi minura na ako di ko na pinansin tapos namumusta pa,” added the league chieftain.
The incident was the latest controversy that involved Abueva who was also slapped with a hefty 100,000 pesos fine over his misconduct during Magnolia’s finals series against San Miguel in the Commissioner’s Cup in February.
He was caught mocking the eye disability of SMB head coach Jorge Gallent and also got into a hallway altercation with Mo Tautuaa and his wife after that same game.
Abueva was given a stern warning by Marcial after those incidents, saying that the Magnolia star could be suspended once again if his antics continue – a call that seemed to have fallen to deaf ears after being caught in hot water just a month after.
“Pag inulit niya pa iyon dadagdagan ko pa yung suspension niya dadagdagan ko rin yung fine nya. Sabi niya ulit di mauulit iyon sabi sige tingnan natin,” said Marcial
“Sabi ko sa kanya sabihin mo sa referee, puntahan mo sa technical putahan mo ko sabihin mo tas kakausapin natin yung fan pwede natin palabasin,” he explained.
