Critics thought that he'll never bring his dominance in the NCAA to the PBA.
Are they right?
Let me break it down for you.
The Beast in NCAA.
- vs CSB: 23 points, 23 rebounds & 6 assists
- vs Perpetual: 15 points, 15 rebounds & 11 assists.
- vs Lyceum: 16 points, 23 rebounds, 10 assists & 4 blocks.
- vs EAC: 29 points, 18 rebounds & 7 assists.
- vs San Beda: 21 points, 21 rebounds & 9 assists.
- vs CSB: 17 points, 13 rebounds & 13 assists.
- vs Mapua: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists & 3 blocks.
- vs JRU: 26 points, 20 rebounds & 4 assists.
- vs Perpetual: 19 points, 17 rebounds & 7 assists.
- vs San Beda: 23 points, 16 rebounds & 3 assists.
Above are stats that are rarely achieved by a 6'1" player. These stats are just part of his league-record 16 double-double's and 4 triple-double's in NCAA. The Beast took NCAA by storm leading on scoring and rebounding. The only downside of Abueva's NCAA career are his turnover per game that in one season he averaged a league-high 5.6 TO and him being hot tempered which led him to trouble most of the time.
The Beast in PBA D-League.
Though already a prospect for the PBA Draft but he chooses to enter PBA D-League. He played with the talent-laden NLEX WARRIORS and helped the franchise to achieve Grandslam Champions by winning the 3 straight championship titles.
The Beast in PBA.
Drafted 2nd overall pick by the Alaska Aces in the 2012 PBA Draft. Expectations were high and critics ready to attack. Unfortunately, he was not able to play for the Aces in three outings due to his duty for his Alma Mater.
In his debut, which the PBA world highly anticipated, he directly made his statement through his game statistics.
Against the Petron Blaze Boosters, He immediately delivered 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. His beast-mode type of play continues up to their last game against the most popular team in the league, the Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel whom they defeated by 18-point difference.
Bottomline.
Are the critics right?...I don't think so.
