Like Romeo, Al Chua wants Abueva to retire with SMC

Back in December of 2019, San Miguel sports director Alfrancis Chua pulled the trigger on getting then-embattled Terrence Romeo from TNT to San Miguel.

Two years later, he did the same, this time getting Calvin Abueva from Phoenix to Magnolia.

And Chua promised the same thing to Abueva as he did to Romeo.

“Sabi niya sa akin, mas gusto ko, dito ka na mag-retire.

“Dito mas alaga ka,” said Abueva on The Chasedown.

Chua accepted Romeo despite him having a previous spat with his good friend and NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio. Same with Abueva as Chua has had numerous confrontations with the enigmatic forward in the past as well.

For his part, Romeo has turned himself around with the Beermen, winning two championships in four conferences while nabbing the Finals MVP plum in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

And Abueva hopes he can do a Romeo and lead Magnolia to a championship.

“More of winning championship ‘tong mga ‘to. Sabi ko naman, ‘I’ll give my best’,” said Abueva, who was a Best Player of the Conference candidate last season.

“Kung ano ‘yung ginawa ko nung bubble, dodoblehin ko pa.”