The Philippine Basketball Association has fined veteran forward Calvin Abueva ₱20,000 following his controversial postgame remarks after Converge FiberXers’s 99–93 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday.
Abueva appeared at the league office on Monday, where he met with Commissioner Willie Marcial, issued an apology, and was formally sanctioned.
In a letter addressed to the player, Marcial cited the incident captured on video:
“Immediately following the final buzzer of the game, while on your way to your team’s locker room, you were recorded by members of the media shouting, ‘paldo ang 4 na referees’. The said short video immediately went viral on social media.”
Marcial emphasized that accusations against game officials, particularly without evidence, are unacceptable.
“Such a malicious and unfounded accusation against our referees cannot go unpunished. Your irresponsible statement is tantamount to conduct detrimental to the best interests of the league.”
Abueva, 38, was traded to Converge by Titan Ultra last February but has yet to see action for the FiberXers in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
With Abueva still sidelined and guard Juan Gomez de Liaño recovering from injury, Converge has struggled, dropping four straight games to fall to a 1–4 record.
The team opened its campaign with a win over Macau before suffering consecutive losses to Terrafirma, Meralco, San Miguel, and Ginebra.