Abueva, Converge test Macau mettle

Calvin Abueva and Converge will be the first to test the mettle of guest team Macau Black Bears when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup kicks off on 11 March at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The explosive and controversial forward will get to see action in a FiberXers uniform in the second game of the double-header playdate at 7:30 p.m.

Abueva, who averaged 23.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the season-opening Philippine Cup, was acquired in a trade with Titan Ultra for Rey Suerte, King Caralipio and Mark Denver Omega early this month.

The Macau Black Bears are parading 7-foot-6 import Sam Deguara and PBA veteran Tony Mitchell to go up against Abueva and Converge reinforcement seven-footer Kylor Kelley.

New Giant Risers head coach Rensy Bajar will also have his baptism of fire against hungry Terrafirma in the curtain-raiser at 5:15 p.m.

On 13 March at the same venue, Blackwater battles NLEX, and Magnolia takes on Phoenix.

The next two playdates will be held at the Ynares Center-Montalban as Converge takes on Terrafirma while Rain or Shine begins its campaign against Macau on 14 March, while the Phoenix-Titan Ultra clash and NLEX-Magnolia collision are set the following day.

Defending champion TNT and its celebrated import Bol Bol get an early test against Rain or Shine while Barangay Ginebra squares off with Macau Black Bears at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum on 20 March.

Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer sets its second straight title bid in motion against Titan Ultra, followed by Phoenix versus Meralco feature on 21 March at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra is addressing its lack of ceiling by striking a trade deal with Terrafirma to boost its frontcourt.

The Kings are acquiring the services of 6-foot-8 Kenmark Carino from the Dyip in a one-on-one exchange for Ben Adamos.

Papers for the trade have already been submitted to the league, as the two parties await approval from the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

Carino will solve Ginebra’s long-time big man issue after losing seven-footer Greg Slaughter and 6-foot-9 Christian Standhardinger while 6-foot-8 Japeth Aguilar is already winding down his career in the upcoming conference that will feature taller, stronger imports.

Once the trade is approved, the 28-year-old Carino gives the Tim Cone-mentored squad more size and muscle, especially with the expected return of Isaac Go from a knee injury.

The 13th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, however, could miss a couple of weeks before making his debut as he is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained last year that forced him to sit out the entire Season 49.

Carino’s agent PJ Pilares of the Titan Management Group told DAILY TRIBUNE that the 2023-20224 All-Defensive Team and the All-Rookie Team member will be good to go in two months’ time.

“He’s doing very good (on his recovery). He’ll be available by April,” Pilares said.

Carino led the league in shot blocks in his rookie season with an average of 1.8 per game.

He helped Terrafirma make the Season 48 Philippine Cup playoffs as the No. 8 seeded team, which forced top seed San Miguel Beer to a do-or-die game for a spot in the semis but eventually lost.

Adamos is heading to his seventh team as a journeyman. The 6-foot-7 big man has played for Alaska, Converge, Phoenix, NLEX, NorthPort before eventually landing in Ginebra in a July 2024 trade with the Batang Pier.