Calvin Abueva

College and amateur career

Abueva began his NCAA career with the San Sebastian Stags in 2009. He gained national attention as Jimbo Aquino's key support when the Stags, coached by Ato Agustin, defeated the San Beda Red Lions for the NCAA title in 2009. He won the Most Valuable Player award in the 87th NCAA season, leading the league in scoring (20.6) and rebounding (13.7) while ranking fourth in assists (3.9), though he also had a league-high 5.6 turnovers. In his fourth and final NCAA year, he was favored to win a second consecutive MVP.

He recorded 16 double-doubles and 4 triple-doubles, a league record. However, on August 25, 2012, in a game against Lyceum, Abueva punched Lyceum's Vence Laude at the back of the head during a scuffle, receiving a disqualifying foul that carried a one-game suspension and made him ineligible for individual awards that season. He also played for the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Developmental League, helping them win three straight championships.

Professional career

Abueva missed Alaska's first three games due to NCAA commitments. In his debut, he recorded 12 points and 16 rebounds in 27 minutes against the Petron Blaze Boosters. Early in the 2013 PBA conferences, he was a front-runner for the Best Player of the Conference title. Despite leading statistical points in the 2013 Philippine Cup and 2013 Commissioner's Cup, he did not win the award.

His performance in the first two conferences placed him in the Rookie-MVP discussion, a feat previously achieved only by Benjie Paras. He was a key factor in Alaska's 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup Championship. However, a dip in his performance and Alaska's early exit in the Governors' Cup weakened his claim to both awards. He was still named 2012–13 PBA Rookie of the Year.

The following season, Abueva struggled with fouling out and foul trouble, which he felt limited his contributions. Coach Luigi Trillo suggested that Abueva may have been "shackled" compared to the previous season, as teams had studied his game and found ways to neutralize him. Despite this, Abueva averaged about 20 minutes per game with 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, numbers lower than his rookie season.

Personal life

Calvin Abueva was born to a Filipina mother, Evelyn, and an African-American father, Calvin Sweeney. Growing up in Angeles City, he would watch Robert Jaworski on television and then mimic his play on the cement courts of Bayanihan Park. He observed how Jaworski became one of the PBA's best rebounders despite being a guard and tried to duplicate that grit. Abueva also played volleyball as a child.

He has a younger brother, Richard Ramsey, who was raised by foster parents after being left for adoption at three months old. Richard met Calvin, mother Evelyn, and his three other siblings in 2010. Richard also plays basketball, for De Ocampo Memorial College, and serves as an assistant coach for the De Ocampo Cobras.