CALVIN Abueva has been told he will be left out of Philippines’ team for next month’s FIBA Asia Cup if he does not report for training on Monday.
The 29-year-old forward, five times a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) all-star, has not reported for any of Gilas’ four training sessions.
The FIBA Asia Cup starts on August 8 in Lebanon and Philippines coach Chot Reyes is yet to hold a practice with his entire team.
Gilas have already been denied the services of former National Basketball Association star Andray Blatche, who opted to remain in the US instead of joining the team.
SEE ALSO: Andray Blatche’s absence presents an opportunity for Philippines in Lebanon
Losing Abueva, who averaged 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds at the Southeast Asian Basketball Championships in May, would be another blow for Reyes.
The energetic forward is, according to SPIN.ph, attending to “personal matters” but there is no word from his club, Alaska Aces, about his whereabouts.
Reyes said: “If he doesn’t come by tomorrow, we’re going to be forced to drop him. We have no other recourse.”
Reyes still hopes it does not come to that stage, although his and the team’s preparations for Lebanon have hardly been perfect.
In addition to losing Blatche shortly before the deadline for submitting his team, Reyes has also had to contend with players missing practice sessions.
While Abueva is yet to explain his absence, Terrence Romeo, Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright missed training on Sunday due to their club commitments in the PBA double-header at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
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