ABUEVA NAMED TOP FRESHMAN
For the fourth straight year, the second player selected in the Annual PBA Draft overall emerged the top freshman in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Calvin Abueva, who placed No. 3 overall in the stats race behind Arwind Santos and LA Tenorio, claimed the Rookie of the Year award in the 2013 PBA Leo Awards at the Mall of Asia Arena Friday night.
Abueva bested top draft selection Junmar Fajardo, following the footsteps of Rico Maierhofer, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Paul Lee as second draft picks who emerged top freshmen.
The Alaska do-it-all ace is the first Rookie of the Year awardee to join the Mythical First Five since Kelly Williams in 2008.
The late Arnie Tuadles was the first to make the feat in 1979 followed by Ricardo Brown in 1983, Allan Caidic in 1987, Benjie Paras in 1989, Marlou Aquino in 1996, Danny Seigle in 1999 and Jimmy Alapag in 2003.
Top rookies making the Mythical Second Team were Willie Pearson in 1984, Dondon Ampalayo in 1986, Jojo Lastimosa in 1988, Jun Limpot in 1993, Boybits Victoria in 1994, Danny Ildefonso in 1988, Gabe Norwood in 2009 and Paul Lee last season.
Abueva was the third Alaska player to become Rookie of the Year awardee after Eugene Quilban in 1991 and Jeffrey Cariaso four years later.
The Angeles City native, a three-time NCAA Mythical Five awardee and once MVP winner, for a while made a good run at a possible Rookie/MVP season in the pros.
However, a dip in performance and Alaska’s early exit in the season-ending Governors Cup stymied his bid for the epic feat seen in the league just once in 1989 (essayed by Benjie Paras). (SB)
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