Calvin Abueva downplays emotions in his first matchup against Titan Ultra

There was no dramatic stare-down, no chest-thumping declaration of payback—just quiet efficiency and a renewed sense of purpose. When Calvin Abueva stepped onto the floor at Ynares Center, the narrative could have easily been about redemption against a former team.

Fresh off a much-needed reset, the Converge FiberXers showed signs of life, snapping their slump with a convincing 103–82 victory over Titan Ultra. The win pushed them to a 2–5 record.

Abueva’s stat line didn’t scream dominance, but it told a story of control. In just 16 minutes off the bench, he poured in 14 points on efficient shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and picked off a steal, all without committing a single turnover.

What made the night more intriguing was the opponent. Titan Ultra wasn’t just another team—it was familiar territory. The split between Abueva and the franchise months earlier had its share of public tension, culminating in a February move that brought him to Converge. Yet, if there were lingering emotions, they didn’t surface under the bright lights.

“Oo, close naman talaga kahit one (conference) lang ‘yung napagsamahan. Siyempre, ‘di naman iba rin ‘yung mga tropa roon,” Abueva said.

Rather than revisiting old conflicts, Abueva leaned into familiarity, greeting former teammates like old friends rather than rivals. The edge many expected never materialized. Instead, what stood out was mutual respect—something that seemed to resonate on both benches.

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WATCH: Coach Delta Pineda and Calvin Abueva after Converge’s 103-82 rout of Titan Ultr that snapped a five-game losing streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/OhADPZ35rm

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The performance also marked a sharp turnaround from his quiet Converge debut against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, where he managed just five points. The difference, he explained, came from deliberate effort in the days leading up to the game.

“Tinrabaho ko ‘yung three days na ‘yun, bago ‘tong game na ‘to. And ang resulta, mas um-OK, mas gumaan, at mas naging agresibo ako,” he said.

But even as his individual form improved, Abueva was quick to deflect attention. The win, he emphasized, wasn’t about one player finding his groove—it was about a team beginning to understand itself.

“Hindi lang naman kami, ang team talaga ang pagbabasehan ng lahat ng mga pinaghirapan naming panalo,” Abueva added. 

That sentiment echoes the broader reality for Converge. With a roster still trying to piece together its identity, victories are less about statement games and more about small steps forward. Chemistry, not star power, remains the work in progress.

As Abueva put it, quoting his coach’s advice, “Sabi nga ni Coach, baguhan pa ‘yung team, hindi pa naaayos ‘yung gusot. Hindi pa nalalabhan, at hindi pa napaplantsa.”

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