IT'S been a while since Calvin Abueva won a PBA championship and it's something that motivates him in his first season with Magnolia.
"Last championship ko 2013 pa sa Alaska. Tagal na. Ilang taon na, eight years, nine years," he said of his first league title won during his rookie season.
But he took a step closer of achieving that goal with the Hotshots after they swept their way past Rain or Shine in the first round of the playoffs to advance in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup.
The 33-year-old undersized forward best typified the desire to end his long personal title drought by coming through with 20 points and 19 rebounds in Magnolia's close out win over the Elasto Painters in Game 2 of their quarterfinals, 96-86.
Coupled with the Purefoods' franchise winning pedigree, Abueva believes this is one of his best chances to win another championship.
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"Iba itong team na ito. Nakakakuha sila ng championship. May destiny ito. Kaya sabi ko kapag napunta ako rito, talagang grab ko lahat ng opportunity na puwede kong gawin dito," said the 'Beast.'
The Hotshots will await the winner of the do-or-die encounter between no. 2 Meralco and no. 7 NLEX as their opponent in the best-of-seven semifinals.
Magnolia failed to go deep in the playoffs in last season's Philippine Cup bubble after being booted out in the quarterfinals by Phoenix with Abueva in tow.
But now that the two combined forces, the Hotshots hope to regain the league's so-called crown jewel which the franchise last won in 2014.
Abueva believes Magnolia has all the necessary tools to achieve that goal.
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"This is the best time na makakuha ka ng ganun (championship). Ang laki ng opportunity. Ang laki ng dream at pangarap sa buhay na naglalaro ka na may hawak kang championship," said the Magnolia veteran. (RG)
