PBA slaps Abueva with P20K fine for ‘paldo’ rant

Sports

ENIGMATIC player Calvin Abueva is at it again.

The highly energetic forward was slapped with a P20,000 fine following his controversial remarks at the conclusion of the Converge FiberXers’ 93-99 loss to the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup last Sunday, March 29.

A day after the loss, Abueva was summoned to appear before the office of PBA Commissioner Willy Marcial for his post-game actuations.

“Immediately following the final buzzer of the game, while on your way to your team’s locker room, you were recorded by members of the media shouting “paldo ang 4 na referees.” The said short video immediately went “viral” on social meda,” Marcial said in his letter to Abueva following their meeting.

Indicated in the letter was the P20,000 fine slapped against Abueva.

Marcial ruled that Abueva’s “ irresponsible statement is tantamount to conduct detrimental to the best interest of the league."

"Such a malicious and unfounded accusation against our referees cannot go unpunished," Marcial said.

Abueva shared the letter on his Facebook account.

Converge acquired Abueva from the Titan Ultra Gian Risers before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup. Still hounded by an injury, Abueva is yet to play in the tournament where Converge is off to a dismal 1-4 (win-loss) start.

The loss to Ginebra was Converge’s fourth in a row.

Abueva, the second overall pick by the defunct Alaska Aces in the 2012 draft, has figured in several controversies in the past. He was indefinitely suspended and fined P50,000 while playing for the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup for assaulting TNT import Terrence Jones.

It was in the same tournament that Abueva was fined P20,000 for verbal altercation and obscene gestures against Bobby Ray Parks Jr.’s girlfriend.(CCM)