The Final Score: Calvin Abueva is another living legend

The Final Score: Calvin Abueva is another living legend

MICO HALILI, GMA News December 16, 2011 3:12pm


I normally ask college basketball players, "Sino ang favorite basketball player mo nung bata ka?" And they normally answer, "Siyempre
Michael Jordan" or "Alvin Patrimonio" or "Kobe Bryant" or "Johnny
Abarrientos". But San Sebastian's Calvin Abueva is not a normal
basketball player. I asked and he answered, "Idol ko talaga si
Jaworski."

I was surprised. You must be too. Jawo? In
this age of the internet, cable television and the PlayStation, a
college player chooses Robert Jaworski over everyone else. The Big J?
Over Air Jordan? Over Johnny A? How is that possible? How old are you?
Yet after the initial shock, my memory takes me back to Jaworski's
classic games, brings me forward to Abueva's greatest hits, helps me see
the cosmic connection between Sonny and Calvin. It all makes sense.

Calvin's
jersey No. 7 is not just a number. Think about his style of play, his
combustible attitude, his barreling drives, his unreasonable hunger for
rebounds, the way he dives for additional possessions, the way he drives
opponents insane. You love him or hate him. He is a blessing or a
curse. Think about it. There remains a Jaworski protege in our midst. A
rare breed. Maybe the last of his kind. Calvin's body of work is not
happenstance. It's a living tribute to The Living Legend.

I asked Calvin, "Kung ibang tao ka and nakita mo si Calvin Abueva on the court, ano mararamdaman mo? Yung totoo."

Calvin replied, "(Expletive) yan. Ang yabang ah."

I
feel his honesty. I see his smirk. Will San Beda players and fans
disagree? Will NCAA opponents dispute it? Will PBA D-League players say
otherwise? It's not exactly gospel truth. But it's Abueva's truth. I
asked for the most honest answer. And he gave it freely. The way
Jaworski, unapologetic in victory and in defeat, always did.

Against
Ateneo in the PCCL Finals last December 15, Abueva, who is not as tall
as Greg Slaughter and not as wide as Junemar Fajardo, tallied 20 points,
17 rebounds and three blocks. He's only 6-foot-3. Yet we're no longer
surprised. He will always play like Jaworski's follower, even if he's
the only one left. He will always play like 10-year old Calvin, back in
Angeles, Pampanga, even when games had to be played at high-noon.

"Naglalaro kami kahit tanghaling tapat, naka-tsinelas lang," Abueva recalls. "Pag-uwi sa hapon, ang dumi-dumi na namin."

We
love Calvin Abueva because he doesn't care. We hate Calvin Abueva
because he doesn't care. Well, he cares for certain things; like
rebounds, like playing the way only mad men can understand. I hope he
joins the PBA soon. To see if he can box-out Arwind Santos or Marc
Pingris. To see if he can still be a beast among beasts.

Ideally,
Calvin should play for Ginebra. Playing-Coach Jaworski would've
recruited him anyway. It will complete his fusion with the Big J. It
will validate his life-long tribute to The Living Legend. — GMA News


Source: GMA NEWS