Rookie Abueva plays first game with Alaska today

Games today:

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Alaska vs. Petron

7:30 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Barako Bull

FINALLY REGISTERING their first win after two straight losses to start the tournament gave the Alaska Aces a huge sigh of relief.

There’s more good news for Alaska as it could finally play with its prized rookie Calvin Abueva when it meets the Petron Blaze Boosters today in the first game of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Having the number two overall pick in the draft will definitely give the Aces a big boost in their campaign to move up to the standings.

Alaska and Petron are at the lower part of the standings where they are tied with Barako Bull Energy Cola for the sixth to eighth spots with similar 1-2 (win-loss) cards.

Abueva didn’t join the Aces immediately since he had to finish his commitments with the San Sebastian Stags in the NCAA.

It will be interesting to see how Abueva will fare in his debut in the professional league following a disheartening campaign in his last year with San Sebastian.

The player nicknamed “The Beast” helped the Stags reach the Final Four but the squad faltered big time when they squandered a twice-to-beat advantage and lost to the Letran Knights, denying them a championship date with the Ronnie Magsanoc-coached San Beda Red Lions.

Once he suits up with the Aces, Abueva will have to work with Louie Alas, the head coach of the Knights. Alas is one of the assistant coaches of Alaska.

While Alaska will be welcoming a solid addition, the Boosters will be missing a key player in June Mar Fajardo, who was hospitalized due to a swollen scrotum. Fajardo, who was picked ahead of Abueva, sustained the injury after he was accidentally hit by San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris in Petron’s 90-84 loss last Sunday./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA