Compton most proud of Calvin Abueva’s ‘growth’

MANILA, Philippines – Before helping lead the Alaska Aces to a do-or-die Game 4 victory in the PBA Finals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Calvin Abueva was named the Best Player of the Commissioner’s Cup on Friday, May 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was the first time Abueva had won the award in his 4-year career since being selected second overall by the Aces in the 2012 PBA Draft. The 28-year-old averaged 18 points and 8 boards a game in the elimination round, then in the make-or-break game on Friday finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists before getting ejected with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter.

Despite his early exit, Abueva’s head coach Alex Compton heaped nothing but praise about the performance and improvement of his star player. 

“Calvin is our initiator in so many different ways, and brings energy,” said Compton, who’s led Alaska to 4 finals appearances in the last 6 conferences. “I would ask you guys – you guys ever seen anybody play with that kind of energy? I haven’t.”

Compton emphasized how in all his time watching hoops, he has yet to see a player who provides the type of hustle the way Abueva does.

“I haven’t watched the PBA for 40 years cause I’m only 25 years old,” the coach joked (he’s actually 42), “but I’ve never seen anybody throw their body around the way he does. And he’s an initiator for us in a lot of ways.”

Episodes of Abueva’s immaturity are in no rare quantity. There are times when he can get caught playing too many mind games with opponents and lose focus on the court. When he entered the PBA, his capabilities were also more raw talent than polished skills. 

But with each passing season, Abueva has worked hard to mature both his mindset and abilities.

“Thing I’m most proud about Calvin is his growth,” Compton said. “I’m really happy for him about the award. I really am. He’s worked so hard, he’s accomplished so much. The thing I’m personally, as his coach, most happy about is his growth.”

Compton noted how Abueva has added the threat of a long-range shot to his arsenal along with making better decisions with the basketball, which is important considering he handles the leather most of the time when he’s on the court for Alaska.

“He’s developed his 3-point shot. Still in progress, but he’s worked on it, and for a while he was shooting something like 42% from 3,” said the head coach. In the elims, Abueva shot 46% from the field and 43% from downtown, per pba-online.net.

“He’s making better decisions. He makes some good passes. I think [he’s] sharing the ball more,” added the head coach.

“I’m just most proud of how much I think he has grown as a player on both sides of the ball, and clearly we are not here and we are not in 4 finals without [him].”

Compton also reminded that he was included in last year’s Gilas-Pilipinas roster than won silver in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

“There’s a reason he’s on Gilas,” said Compton, who was an assistant coach in Tab Baldwin’s staff.

“There’s a reason he’s a lightning rod for attention, because if your eyes aren’t drawn to Calvin when you’re watching the game, it probably means your eyes are closed, cause he’s just everywhere.”

Alaska still trails Rain or Shine 1-3 in the series and will aim to stay alive in Game 5 on Sunday, May 16. – Rappler.com