Phoenix star Matthew Wright said he will miss former teammate Calvin Abueva, although he acknowledged that trades are inevitable in the PBA.

Abueva ended a two-year stint with Phoenix as the team dealt him to Magnolia despite a successful PBA return that saw him come back from a 16-month suspension.

“The team trusts the direction we are heading, but personally, I will miss Calvin since we’ve been together since my journey started here in the Philippines with Gilas [Pilipinas],” Wright told Rappler.

The Wright-Abueva tandem worked wonders for Phoenix.

In 3 conferences they finished together, Phoenix reached the playoffs in all occasions and made the semifinals twice.

Phoenix almost barged into the finals for the first time in franchise history in the previous Philippine Cup as Wright and Abueva both contended for the Best Player of the Conference award.

But their partnership was cut short as Abueva found himself traded to Magnolia along with a first-round pick in exchange for Chris Banchero, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick in the March 14 draft.

“It came as a shock but it is the nature of the business. Management felt like we could acquire key pieces from Calvin,” Wright said.

Following the trade, Phoenix will now get to pick higher at No. 6 in the upcoming draft, while Magnolia will slide to No. 10.

“We’re excited to have Banchero come in. We think he can be a main piece to our team as well as whoever we draft at 6, ” Wright said. – Rappler.com