The People Vs Calvin Abueva

Wouldn't be surprised if they
called this foul on Abueva.
Seriously. (Photo courtesy of Sports5)

What's in a name?

Turns out, a season's worth of flops, aggressive play and unapologetic behavior on way to a PBA Rookie of the Year citation is going to get you under a bad light in terms of PBA sanctions and what not. To make matters worse, it seems that this ill reputation is something that can't be shed after a season-- the blasted thing carried over to the on-going PBA Philippine Cup apparently.

So when the subject of this piece, the Alaska Aces' reigning PBA ROY Calvin Abueva and the Meralco Bolts' Jared Dillinger figured in an awkward scuffle just days ago, everyone in the room knew that fines were going to come in by way of the diligent PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

What we didn't expect was how ridiculous the penalties would be.

BAM! Php 10,000 on Dillinger for pulling Abueva by the jersey down AND his choking/shoving motion on Abueva.

BAM! Php 5,000 on the Bolts' Gary David for raising a closed fist at Abueva.

And... BAM! Php 10,000 on Abueva for taunting and what would be upgraded by the Commish to an unsportsmanlike/ flagrant foul call.

Oh, and just for good measure, an added Php 3,000 on Abueva for all his flopping.

Was the fine on Dillinger deserving? Yes. He put his hands on Abueva, he ran his mouth on Abueva. Video confirms this. He didn't choke the man, but he damn near grade school bullied him to a corner (re: pinned him down). He suffered a bloodied nose yes, but that was not intentional. He was irate as hell, anyone would at the sight of his own blood, but at day's end it was a basketball play before he pulled on Abueva.

David? For being a homeboy to Dillinger is understandable and commendable. Raising a fist, as a Gilas Pilipinas standout ONE and for all the world to see TWO-- a heftier fine should have been given. He didn't throw a punch, but the intent/ message was clearly there. He could've easily made the situation worse than it really was.

On Abueva. The Php 3,000 was and is well-earned and deserved. He has been flopping his whole young PBA career it would make Ronald Tubid, the "Patron Saint of Filipino Floppers" look like an angel. It's almost like someone whispered into his ear to just keep on flopping to get calls in the pros (for those who saw him play in college, you know that Abueva is no flopper- and that he can take huge hits as much as he dishes them).

The Php 10,000 though for the unsportsmanlike foul?

How is a clean, hard, go-after-the-ball-with-force block an unsportsmanlike foul?

For the uninitiated who claim that Dillinger's bloodied nose was AFTER the block and initial follow through, please watch the video. A nose doesn't bleed that easily with a backhand hit the way Abueva was being pulled down by Dillinger. Abueva would need more trajectory-- he'd have to be able to swing his whole arm way back to make a grown man's nose bleed.

So yeah, it came just after the block. Because of the follow through motion. That bloodied Dillinger's nose.

Did Abueva sneak in a few more hits?

Yes, with his back hand. And when they landed. But Dillinger got in a shove on the side of Abueva's head.

If we were allowed a do over, we'd fine Gary David the highest for that closed fist of his. Dillinger somewhere lower. Abueva, for his flops and a warning for aggressive play.

Really now, had the tables been turned and Abueva went berserk on a dude and shoved/choked him down, we're talking clear one-month suspension here.

That's the problem with being Calvin Abueva based on how he has made a name for himself in the pros.

Don't take our word for it, see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=licWElkyl1I