Unleash the Beast
Calvin Abueva looks to help San Sebastian repeat and win the MVP trophy in the process.
by rick olivares
In the Fil Oil Invitational Finals that was concluded more than a week ago, tournament barker Rolly Manlapaz made a curious announcement.
“And at center --- Calvin Abueva.” he said in a low baritone as if the second year player’s manning the middle for the San Sebastian Stags was nothing out of the ordinary.
That slot belongs to starter Ian Sangalang who stands 6’7” and is a shotblocking menace. With Sangalang coming off the bench after an injury during a match against De La Salle in the Fil Oil quarterfinals that put the scare on the San Sebastian faithful, Abueva made the start first against NCAA nemesis Jose Rizal University then finally, Far Eastern University.
Yet height barely begins to define “the Beast” as Abueva is nicknamed.
He stands 6’4” and maybe a decade ago that height was tall enough to man the slot. But in this age of inter-marriages, better diet, and scientific training, a player of that height is better suited for the 3-spot position.
In the FilOil Finals, the Beast’s defense virtually rendered FEU center Reil Cervantes ineffective. He bodied up Cervantes, never fell for those pump fakes, and beat his FEU counterpart to spots on the floor that forced traveling violations or turnovers. And to best sum up the match-up, he sent Cervantes to the bench in favor of other players.
I thought that it was injustice that the television analysts pooh-poohed Abueva’s efforts to Cervantes having a bad day. It would be interesting to note that Abueva’s owning Cervantes is every bit similar to Rabeh Al-Hussaini getting the better of another Tamaraw frontliner – Pippo Noundou – in the last UAAP season. Noundou couldn’t stop nor push Al-Hussaini off the blocks and the Ateneo center had his way with FEU and later still UE’s frontline that all but guaranteed the Blue Eagles’ victory.
With Abueva, he is the key to any repeat by the Stags in Season 86. Although there’s the matter of the champs not having a go-to player when they need points, coach Ato Agustin can count on his high-leaping fellow Kapampangan to get the job done. He showed that against FEU and JRU en route to the FilOil title, the first won by an NCAA team in the fifth staging of the tournament.
Abueva was rightly declared the competition’s MVP and why not? He averaged a double double in the tournament. He was one part human dynamo and one part offensive force. The last NCAA player in my opinion who fit that category was the PCU Dolphins’ Gabby Espinas who won Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2004.
What makes Abueva, NCAA Season 85’s Rookie of the Year, dangerous is not his hops and athleticism but his ability to be one step ahead of everyone. When he corrals an offensive rebound, he immediately swoops towards the hoop a millisecond ahead that oft fetches a foul for an and-one. He is quick to exploit mismatches and is never afraid to take it inside even if rejected at the first try. And he doesn’t take too many ill-advised shots.
He is also a crafty player. When he drives to the basket – actually the term is “barrels” -- he bowls over everyone in the process and in doing so it puts him in the position to grab the offensive board.
It is with Abueva (along with Sangalang, 6’6” Rey Gorospe, and 6’4” Gilbert Bulawan) that San Beda beefed up its frontline to insane proportions for the upcoming NCAA Season.
They have the returning Sudan Daniel who stands 6’8” and there’s the bruising 6’4” Dave Marcelo, the solid yet unspectacular Pascuals (no relation to one another) Kyle and Jake who both stand 6’5” and the Fil-Australian twins Anthony and David Semerad who at 6’4” can both play multiple positions.
Two schools – San Sebastian and San Beda – that are university belt neighbors.
One thing is for sure, the title will go right through their neck of the woods where the Beast lies waiting.
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