IN just his second game with Northport, Calvin Abueva appeared to have quickly settled down with his new team.
The veteran forward scattered an all-around game of 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and five steals in helping the Batang Pier arrest an eight-game skid following a 113-108 win over no.1 team NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Abueva said there's nothing extraordinary about it given the playing time accorded to him.
"Ganun naman talaga ang laro ko kung maglalaro ka talaga sa loob. Pero kung nasa labas (ka), hindi mo makukuha yung minuto at score mo na ganun," said the 37-year-old from Angeles City.
He almost had the same stats line (18-7-3) in his debut with the orange-and-white team, which unfortunately, ended up in a 118-107 loss to Phoenix.
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But this time, he was given longer minutes to play as part of coach Bonnie Tan's starting unit.
The extended playing time may have caught up with 'The Beast' that he suffered cramps at the end of the game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
"Namulikat ako, nabigla ata ako sa minuto," a smiling Abueva said after playing for 35 minutes against the Road Warriors.
"Pero siyempre, start pa lang ng conference. Hindi start, e. End ng conferece, e. Bawi na lang next conference."
Nonetheless, he's been satisfied so far with the way everything is going in his stint as a Batang Pier.
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"Para kaming nag-semis. Last two games namin, nakuha namin yung isa,' Abueva noted.
Northport acquired the services of the energetic forward following a trade with Magnolia for William Navarro. Also part of the package was Jerrick Balanza and a future draft pick.
"Business yun," was how he saw the trade that ended his four-year stay at Magnolia.
Abueva and the Batang Pier (2-8) have one final game on Sunday against the San Miguel Beermen before calling it a season. (RG)
