Calvin Abueva and the Magnolia Hotshots are a match made in heaven.
Hotshots’ coach Chito Victolero said this after Abueva came off the bench and finished with a monster game for the team on Thursday evening.
“Si Calvin, malaking tulong sa amin sa depensa at opensa, sa nagagawa niyang hustle, energy and extra possession. Mas magandang nandito siya sa amin kesa ibang team,” said Victolero.
The Magnolia coach talked about the importance of having the 6’3” Abueva around after the Hotshots eked out a 96-86 triumph over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to sweep their first round quarterfinal series in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
The 33-year-old Abueva had double-double of 20 markers on 6-for-11 shooting, to go with a season-high 19 rebounds in 34 minutes of play.
And his performance made Abueva one of the leading candidates for Best Player of the Conference honors.
Since Abueva joined the Hotshots following a trade from the Phoenix Fuel Masters, the former San Sebastian Stag has developed chemistry with his teammates, which eased Victolero’s worries before the season started.
“‘Yun lang naman ang worry ko before, na baka kulangin kami sa chemistry. Now, nakikita ko na sa kanila that they work hard together when they go to practice,” added Victolero.
Victolero said Abueva was a big threat to the Hotshots, and when the latter helped the Fuel Masters in getting Magnolia eliminated in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
With their sweep of the Painters, the Hotshots are back in the semifinals for the first time in two years.
The Hotshots earlier took Game 1 of their best-of-three series with Rain or Shine with a 81-70 win.
With the Hotshots now in the semis, Abueva’s wish is for them to reach the championship round.
“Matagal na, eight years na (on having been in the finals). Sana makapasok at makuha namin,” said Abueva, recalling that he last won a championship when he was with Alaska back in 2013.
Magnolia will now wait for the winner of the Meralco-NLEX series to find out their semis opponent.