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PBA: Robinson welcomes 'high risk, high reward' Abueva to Phoenix

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/07/20180807_calvin.jpg"/><figcaption>Calvin Abueva file photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- Coach Topex Robinson knows exactly what they are getting by trading for Calvin Abueva.The Phoenix Fuel Masters on Tuesday acquired Abueva in a trade with the Alaska Aces, sending a 2019 first-round pick and guard Karl Dehesa in exchange for the dynamic, but controversial, forward.It will be a reunion of sorts for Robinson, Phoenix head coach Louie Alas, and “The Beast.” Alas was part of the Alaska coaching staff for a long time, while Robinson, his chief deputy, was Abueva’s head coach in San Sebastian.“I’m excited,” Robinson said Tuesday. “I just told him that it’s gonna be hard here, but… it’s nice to work with him again, after everything he’s been through.”Abueva’s stint in Alaska was prolific and eventful. He won Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, and helped the Aces claim the crown in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. In 2016, he was the Best Player of the Conference in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.But recently, Abueva has struggled off the court. He was indefinitely suspended by Alaska after not reporting to practice following the PBA’s All-Star Week. He was also banned for six games in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers for his role in the infamous brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia.In its statement confirming the trade, Alaska head coach Alex Compton said that “it was best for both Alaska and Calvin to have a fresh start at this time.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/news/2018/08/07/pba-aces-deal-calvin-abueva-phoenix-45385">READ: Aces deal Calvin Abueva to Phoenix</a></li></ul>Robinson acknowledged that having Abueva in their team means accepting all the baggage that comes with the versatile forward, who became one of the most statistically dominant players in the NCAA under his watch.“Just seeing him in our team is obviously gonna change everything in our team,” he said. “It might be a double-bladed sword, but Calvin is a high risk, high reward player.”&quot;’Yun naman talaga ‘yun, so you have to take the bad with the good,” he added.Robinson has already been in contact with Abueva, who immediately called up his former coach upon hearing of the trade.“I asked him, kundisyon ka ba, oo daw. Sabi ko, ‘yung utak mo?” said Robinson.&quot;(But) Calvin knows this -- I’ll always be a father to him,” he added. “Kapag ang anak mo, umuwi sa bahay mo na may bagsak na grade, ‘di mo naman ‘yan ipapa-adopt, or hahanap ka ng mas matalinong anak. What you have to do is develop that kid. ‘Yung anak mo na naliligaw, mahal mo pa rin.”This is the kind of relationship that Robinson has with Abueva, and he is ready to once again serve as a father figure to “The Beast.” However, he also stressed that it will still be up to Abueva to make the most of the new opportunity that he will be getting with the Fuel Masters.“Ang magagawa lang namin ni Coach Louie, advise namin (siya),” he said. “At the end of the day, ikaw pa rin ang gagawa ng future mo.”For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters on Tuesday acquired Abueva in a trade with the Alaska Aces, sending a 2019 first round pick and guard Karl Dehesa in exchange for the dynamic, but controversial, forward.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters on Tuesday acquired Abueva in a trade with the Alaska Aces, sending a 2019 first round pick and guard Karl Dehesa in exchange for the dynamic, but controversial, forward.

PBA: Robinson welcomes 'high risk, high reward' Abueva to Phoenix

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PBA: Robinson welcomes 'high risk, high reward' Abueva to Phoenix

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 07, 2018 03:41 PM PHT

Read More:

PBA

basketball

Calvin Abueva

Alaska Aces

Phoenix Fuel Masters

Topex Robinson

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