Calvin's Back: Three reasons why his return is a smash hit

Simply put, the return of Calvin Abueva is a godsend not only to Phoenix Super LPG, but also to the entire Pinoy basketball community as he came back from a long exile in the PBA. The prodigal comeback Monday evening sparked the Fuel Masters in a jiffy, leading them to a crucial win over NLEX that kept them in step at the top of the pile in the Philippine Cup.

Banished for more than a year and four months after his Clothesline from Hell in Antipolo, the Beast has tamed himself against the Road Warriors, but still had that intensity that was first seen in Baste with him all the time, after getting the much needed clearance from the commissioner's office.

Here are three reasons why his return became a surefire blockbuster.

1. It was the same Calvin, minus that "angas"

Without a doubt, Abueva duly delivered for Phoenix the way he used to be but now it was a reformed edition of the Beast. Simply put, it was him without all the antics and the trashtalk that became a signature for him.

In short, Calvin played clean and honest basketball all throughout the game. And his production was still the same from the man who averages double-double figures in the past All-Filipino tilt when they nabbed the top spot.

Three dimes shy of a triple-double. A plus/minus of +18, and he did it coming off the bench. Those numbers are definitely loved by his team as they moved up to 4-2.

And in one instance, he showed why he was now a reformed man by helping out his former college rival Anthony Semerad twice when they both fell down on the court. Way back when San Sebastian and San Beda collided on the court, it was a normal thing to see both men jawing and clashing with each other.

2. Credit to the PBA for sticking to the process, even if it frustates their fans

The long and winding road to Abueva's reinstatement clearly irks their diehard supporters up to no end, with some even throwing mud in the PBA for its slow process.

It even reached the point that the fans are accusing Willie Marcial of supposed bias against independent franchises, while presenting claims that Arwind Santos' monkey gesture in last year's Commissioner's Cup Finals should also merit that kind of punishment.

However, Marcial stuck to his process as he presented explanations why Abueva's return is a thorough one, knowing that his game attitude clearly resonates from his life off the court. 

Apart from that he also never left him in the dark as he guided them in every step of it, as it made him realize that he should never take his career for granted just because of his anger management issues.

3. The fans went back, and rightfully so with the numbers

As of this writing, more than eight-hundred thousand views were in the live streams of the game last Monday (including me, of course). The NLEX-Phoenix game is now the second most-watched game this season, with only the "bubble edition" of the Manila Clasico surpasses that.

With the bubble had started, the figures have been decent, as Ginebra still has that massive following in every game and even without their vaunted sixth man literally, they have been performing well.

Now with the Beast back, expect the numbers to go up and given the performance of the Fuel Masters, it will go higher.

PHOTO: PBA