What does Calvin Abueva’s trade to Converge mean for him and the team?

MANILA, Philippines – Calvin Abueva will suit up for a new squad when the next PBA conference starts as Titan Ultra traded him to Converge.

To acquire “The Beast,” the FiberXers sent King Caralipio, Rey Suerte, and Mark Omega to the Giant Risers.

With Abueva now 38 years old and in the middle of a career resurgence, what does this trade mean for him and Converge? 

As Abueva joins a young and loaded squad in the FiberXers who are bannered by Juan Gomez de Liaño, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Alec Stockton, and Schonny Winston, he is expected to see his production take a significant dip.

In his lone campaign with Titan Ultra, Abueva — a two-time Best Player of the Conference — showed he remains a force after leading the Philippine Cup in scoring with an average of 23.6 points to go with 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks.

Abueva and Joshua Munzon, who put up 21.6 points on top of 4.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals, took turns in shouldering the offensive load for the Giant Risers, with only two other teammates scoring in double figures: Von Pessumal (10.3) and Aris Dionisio (10.0).

It will be a different dynamic once Abueva suits up for Converge, which thrived on a balanced attack, having no player who averaged over 20 points in the season-opening All-Filipino joust.

Gomez de Liaño led the FiberXers with 19.0 points followed by Arana (15.7), Baltazar (14.9), Stockton (14.2), and Winston (11.8). 

Add Abueva to the mix and it will be no surprise if his numbers take a hit.

On the flip side, joining the FiberXers gives Abueva a chance to contend in the playoffs again after the past two conferences witnessed him and his teams fail to reach the quarterfinals.

Abueva was headed to the playoffs of the Philippine Cup last season with Magnolia but he was traded in the middle of the conference to NorthPort, which went on to finish second to last with a 2-9 record in its final campaign in the PBA before it sold its franchise to Titan Ultra.

Even as Abueva turned back the hands of time in the past conference, he and the Giant Risers missed the bus to the quarterfinals, compiling a 4-7 record for ninth place. 

Converge has its fingers crossed that Abueva is the missing piece.

While the FiberXers have made the playoffs in each of the last four conferences, a breakthrough appearance in the semifinals has remained elusive as Converge fell short time and again.

In the All-Filipino tiff this season, the FiberXers gained a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals after finishing fourth with a 7-4 record only to suffer another early exit, losing back-to-back games to battle-tested Barangay Ginebra, including a heartbreaking overtime meltdown in the do-or-die clash.

Bringing in an experienced player like Abueva who has gone to the finals seven times might just be the edge Converge needs to get over the hump.

Abueva feels just right at home as he reunites with longtime patron and Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who now calls the shot for the FiberXers.

It is also a homecoming of sorts for Abueva as he reinforces the squad that bought the franchise of his original team Alaska, with which he captured his first and only PBA championship back in his rookie season in 2013.

Can Abueva win a second one? – Rappler.com