MANILA – Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva has been named the Davco-Best Player of the Conference for the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
The nine-year PBA veteran was awarded with the trophy before the start of Game 4 of the best-of-seven championship series with the TNT Tropang Giga on Wednesday night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
This was the second time that the former San Sebastian College Golden Stags forward was hailed as the winner of the league’s BPC trophy following his strong showing for the Hotshots.
The individual citation was also fitting for Abueva, who was indefinitely suspended for over a year due to his unnecessary antics on the court until he was allowed to return last year.
Abueva garnered a total of 934 points to collect his second BPC trophy — 415 points from stats, 440 votes from the media, 54 votes from the players, and 25 votes from the PBA office.
Abueva’s BPC win did not come as a surprise. He was the frontrunner all the way to the cutoff by the end of the semifinals with 34.2 statistical points on averages of 15.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks across 19 games.
“Hindi ko naman hinahabol (ang PBA Philippine Cup BPC award). Sabi ko nga kay (Hotshots head) coach (Chito Victolero), that’s a bonus na nakuha ko ‘yun,” said Abueva.
Abueva and the Hotshots, however, were on the brink of elimination heading into Game 5 tonight as the Tropang Giga will have a chance to wrap up the title series with its 3-1 series edge.
Tropang Giga’s Mikey Williams placed behind Abueva in the PBA Philippine Cup BPC race with 843 points, including 150 votes from the league, 245 from media and 59 from his fellow players.
Abueva’s teammate Ian Sangalang finished in third place in the race with 591 points followed by NorthPort Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick Jr. (447) and San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo (403)./PN
