Calvin Abueva out for several weeks due to calf muscle strain
Calvin Abueva will be unavailable for Magnolia for the next several weeks of the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup due to a calf muscle strain.
The 34-year old native of Angeles City’s injury was confirmed after an MRI and will consult with his doctor on Wednesday before getting his Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment, as per Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero.
The slight tear in Abueva’s calf, which he sustained during Magnolia’s victory over TNT Last Friday, means that he won’t be able to see action starting with the team’s match against the NLEX Road Warriors on Wednesday, February 16.
“He will miss around two to three weeks, I think. Yun ang initial estimate, but I don’t know kung bababa or tatagal pa siya. Yung doctor niya bukas ang magsasabi kung ilang weeks siya mawawala,” explained Victolero.
The 2nd overall pick of the 2012 PBA draft has skipped the team’s practices the past few days upon advise of the Hotshots’ physical therapists.
Victolero admitted that he, along with the rest of the squad, was surprised with the injury since “The Beast” was able to finish the game against the Tropang Giga and even managed to contribute six points, five rebounds and five assists.
“Actually natapos niya pa yung game, eh. After na nung naramdaman niya. We feel hindi naman ganun ka-grabe kasi natapos niya pa yung laro. Pero dahil sumasakit nga, kailangan pag-pahingahin muna siya,” said the former PBA player.
The Hotshots are now keeping their fingers crossed that Abueva’s injury is a minor one so that he could rejoin the team’s quest to regain the Governor’s Cup crown which they last held in 2018.
“Yun na lang ang positive na iniisip namin na sana makahabol siya (for the playoffs),” said Victolero.
Abueva joins Rome dela Rosa and newly acquired big man James Laput on the injured list.
Dela Rosa is out for two weeks due to a hamstring injury while Laput could be gone for the rest of the conference since he is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday to remove bone spurs in his ankle.
