Parks claims Abueva made up quotes in apology story

It seems that Ray Parks may not be just done yet with his issues with Calvin Abueva.

In the latest development of what appeared to be a closed chapter, the TNT star guard claimed in his Instagram story on Friday, November 6, that the media wrongfully published alleged made-up quotes by the Phoenix forward.

In a television interview, Abueva said that he personally apologized to Parks during a chance meeting earlier in the PBA bubble in Pampanga. However, Parks is refuting some details of that meeting.

“Never in my life did I say, ‘It’s okay, keep up what you’re doing, I wish you’re gonna come back soon,” he said on Instagram. “Look, I’m just pissed off that people would publish something that never came out of my mouth!”

“I’m not mad about the comeback, I’m just pissed off about the damn lie!” Parks concluded his post, which has since been deleted. Parks also deactivated his Twitter account shortly afterwards.

The quotes Parks was referring to were made by Abueva during an interview with Sports Page of PBA broadcaster One Sports.

During that interview, Abueva said, “Nagkita kami at nabanggit ko na, ‘Hey bro, sorry for the past few years na nangyari. Sabi niya ‘It’s okay, keep up what you’re doing. I wish you’re gonna come back soon.'”

(We saw each other and I told him, “Hey bro, sorry what happened in the past few years.” He said, “It’s okay, keep up what you’re doing. I wish you’re gonna come back soon.”)

On May 31, 2019, Abueva directed obscene gestures towards Parks’ girlfriend Maika Rivera during a game between Phoenix and the Blackwater Elite, Parks’ old team.

That incident was one major reason for the imposition of Abueva’s indefinite suspension, which lasted for 16 months.

In a report by Gerry Ramos of Spin.ph, it said that efforts were made to confirm that statement a day after the Sports Page interview, but Parks “politely begged off” from the followup request.

For now, Parks and Abueva will not cross paths on the court where the battles really matter as TNT and Phoenix have already matched up last October 19, with the Tropang Giga blasting the then-Abueva-less Fuel Masters, 110-91.

The playoffs, however, are a different story. With both teams in the top 3 of the standings so far, it seems likely that an anticipated rematch is on the horizon. – Rappler.com