IN THE PBA, they call him the “Beast”.

You either love him or hate him depending on which team you are rooting for in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

If you’re a fan of Magnolia Pambansang Manok, you love him for his tireless hustle and the energy he brings at both ends of the court.

When his number is called, he always comes 101 percent ready. If scoring the most points is not enough to win the game, he would try to get the most rebounds or the most assists or the most steals.

A second overall pick by Alaska Milk during the 2012 PBA Draft, Abueva has been frequently compared to the legendary all-around import Sean Chambers.

If you’re a fan of the 11 other PBA teams, you hate him for doing exactly what you hope your favorite players would do on and off the playing court.

Well, the “Beast” is playing like the “Beast” of old in the PBA again.

Exactly a year since his indefinite suspension for two separate infractions was lifted by both the PBA and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the 33-year-old pride of Angeles City in back in the conversation as to who is the “Best Player of the Conference” in the coronavirus-interrupted 46th season of the PBA at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

And if the basketball gods will be kind enough, Abueva could win only his second BPC award since winning it for the first time during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.

Consider:

— Led his team Magnolia Hotshots to the third-best record of 8-3 win-loss in the eliminations behind only Talk N Text (10-1) and Meralco (9-2).

— With Magnolia’s 91-80 win over Rain or Shine in the opener of their best-of-three quarterfinal series, Abueva and the Hotshots need only one more win over the Elasto Painters to advance to the semis for the first time in more than two years.

— In his first conference with the Hotshots, Abueva leads the race for the BPC race with 35.36 statistical points against Mikey Williams’ 35.30 SP, Robert Bolick’s 35.27, Jamie Malonzo’s 31.5, Ian Sangalang’s 31.3, CJ Perez’s 30.7, Javee Mocon’s 31.1, Arwind Santos’ 29.6, Jason Perkins’ 29.4 and Scottie Thompson’s 29.4.

— Abueva also has great all-around numbers with 16.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game with the Hotshots.
Can Abueva make it and complete another storybook success story by winning the league’s top individual award.

But whether or not Abueva makes it as BPC winner, two of the happiest persons should be PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and GAB Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, who gave him a second chance in his basketball life.

The two gentlemen wanted Abueva to mend his ways, get back into the groove and become the player that everybody love — and not hate.

The “Beast” surely did not disappoint.

* * *

The presence of six hard-working and sports-minded lawmakers, led by Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, is expected to add spice to the third Professional Sports Summit organized by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on Sept. 29.

Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, is expected to discuss his full support to the proposed budgets of the GAB and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Joining Go during the one-day online sports summit are Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara and Pia Cayetano and Cong. Jericho Nograles.

All six lawmakers are among the staunch supporters of sports in the country, according to Mitra.

Department of Health Assistant Secretary and Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Eric Tayag will also grace the summit.

“Professional Sports thru the Pandemic: The Now and Future Directions” is this year’s summit theme.

NOTES — Happy birthday to my inaanak, Mary D. Andaya of Orange County, CA, who celebrated last September 27. Mary is the daughter of my brother Joseph and his wife Annette, and sister of Allen Joshua.

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