Calvin Abueva faces PBA fine for comments on PBA referees amid Converge loss

Controversy and Calvin Abueva have long gone hand in hand, and Sunday night was no different.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office summoned the Converge forward after his remarks about officiating during their loss to Barangay Ginebra.

Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that Abueva was called in the following day, with the player even sharing a glimpse of his visit to the league office in Libis on social media. 

Abueva avoided a suspension but was fined P20,000 for statements deemed detrimental to the league.

“Paldo referee” and “Apat ang paldo,” Abueva said as he was caught on video by various media outlets covering the beat, while on his way to the team’s dugout after his squad loss to the Gin Kings 99-93 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Such a malicious and unfounded accusation against our referees cannot go unpunished,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial stated in a letter sent to Abueva.

He appeared remorseful and visibly emotional during his meeting with Commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday, expressing regret over the incident.

Despite being traded to the FiberXers, where he reunited with longtime patron Dennis “Delta” Pineda, Abueva has yet to fully settle in with the team struggling near the bottom of the standings at 1-4.

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At this point, it’s fair to ask if Calvin Abueva really is the leader that Converge needs.

Judging by last conference, kaya pa for sure. But you gotta wonder if his “extras” would be a distraction eventually. pic.twitter.com/E5Wx7z0BZy

— Martin Dale Bolima (@BolimaDale) March 30, 2026

Yet beyond the latest fine, Abueva’s history suggests that moments like this are not isolated. Wherein 2019, the PBA handed him one of the harshest penalties in recent league history—a suspension along with a P70,000 fine after multiple incidents, including a clothesline hit on an opponent and inappropriate gestures toward a fan. 

The league described the acts as serious violations of professional conduct, emphasizing the need for discipline among players.

Even after returning from that suspension in 2020 under strict conditions that included counseling and behavioral guidelines, Abueva’s on-court demeanor has continued to draw scrutiny. 

The league made it clear at the time that any repeat offenses could lead to further sanctions, reinforcing that his reinstatement came with expectations of change.

More recently, in 2024, Abueva was again penalized—this time with a one-game suspension and a P20,000 fine for flashing a middle finger at a fan during a game. The incident showed that despite periods of resurgence in his career, his fiery personality still occasionally crosses the line set by the league.

Now with Converge, Abueva finds himself at yet another crossroads. The opportunity for a fresh start is there, but so is the weight of his past.

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