PBA commissioner Willie Marcial will allow Calvin Abueva to begin practicing with the Phoenix Fuel Masters beginning Thursday. Abueva is serving a suspension for a string of incidents including a June 2 on-court altercation with TNT import Terrence Jones.
"Tomorrow he'll start conditioning with us. He'll lift some weights. I told him to join us in shootaround because it's only a light practice," Phoenix coach Louie Alas said after the Fuel Masters' 130-119 loss to San Miguel on Wednesday. "I'll see what situation I'll use him in, but they said it's allowed. We asked the commissioner's office and they said he's allowed to practice."
Alas does not know what the timeline is for Abueva to be reinstated.
"I still don't know what the commissioner will do, but Calvin's been doing community service and everything. Let's wait what the decision will be," Alas said.
Without the 31-year-old Abueva, Phoenix missed the Commissioner's Cup playoffs and slumped to 4-7 finish. Phoenix was a franchise-best 9-2 with Abueva in the Philippine Cup. The Fuel Masters' have dropped the first two games of the Governors' Cup.
Alas had been unsuccessful in getting guidance from the commissioner's office on what Abueva needed to do to return to the team.
"Super good news. At least now we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Before we were really confused. It's a very good development," Alas said.
Abueva was suspended indefinitely on June 4 and P70,000 for two separate incidents.
Jones hit Abueva in the groin following a collision during the June 2 game. Abueva retaliated with a running clothesline, resulting in a flagrant foul-penalty 2 and ejection.
The PBA fined Abueva P50,000 for the incident.
Abueva was also fined P20,000 for making an obscene gesture towards a fan during the Phoenix-Blackwater game on May 31 at the Mall of Asia Arena. During a timeout, Abueva made hand gestures towards a fan, later identified as the girlfriend of Blackwater rookie Bobby Ray Parks, Jr.