Calvin Abueva may have yet to see action in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup but Magnolia had already rewarded him with a new contract that will make him secured for the next three years.
Abueva’s agent, Danny Espiritu, told Daily Tribune that Abueva will remain with the Hotshots until 2027 during their 104-91 win over Terrafirma last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We secured the signing last Wednesday at Araneta,” said Espiritu, who was joined by Magnolia team manager Alvin Patrimonio.
Branded as the “Beast” for his kill-or-be-killed attitude inside the court, the 35-year-old Abueva has yet to see action in the season-opening conference after undergoing surgery to remove hemorrhoids.
He was acquired by the Hotshots in a blockbuster trade with Phoenix in exchange for gunner Chris Banchero and a pair of draft picks in 2021.
He made an instant impact as he helped Magnolia reach the Philippine Cup finals in his first conference only to fall to TNT Tropang Giga in five games.
Still, he emerged as the Best Player of the Conference, proving that he remains as one of the league’s premier power forwards.
In the previous Governors’ Cup, Abueva averaged 14.18 points, 9.36 rebounds and 3.18 assists as Magnolia made it as far as the quarterfinals before getting knocked out by Meralco, which held a twice-to-beat advantage last 22 March.
Abueva was projected to return in December but suffered a setback after sustaining a calf strain injury that pushed back his availability to early next year.
