As part of the exchange, the Magnolia will acquire Phoenix’s first-round pick.

“Nakaka-shock. Napansin ko lang talaga kanina – ‘yung friend ko pa nakaalam,” Abueva admitted in 2OT, presented by SMART.

“Low batt ako kanina eh. Hindi ko nakita, hindi ko napansin mga reactions. ‘Yun. Nagulat ako na-trade na ako,” he continued.

This will be the second time for the controversial power forward that he dealt for an exchange which the first started in late 2018 when Alaska traded him to the Fuel Masters for Karl Dehesa and a 2019 first-round draft pick.

The 33-year-old could not help to feel disarray which in fact he does not have any knowledge regarding the matter and only knew of the news through a text message from his friend and later, from some Phoenix officials after his failure to show up during the scheduled meeting.

Some of his teammates such as Justin Chua reached out to him to know the situation of Abueva.

“Ngayon nabigla na lang ako. ‘Nasan ka na? Saan napunta?’ Parang gumive up na lang, na bigla kang binitawan,” he said.

“Si Justin [tumawag]. Malungkot, dahil iniwan ko raw sila, ganito ganyan. Pero… Actually wala naman tayo magagawa, ‘di ba? Kahit na sabihin mong ayaw mo umalis, pero wala, wala kang magagawa,” he shared.

In the two years there, the former Phoenix forward prompted the Fuel Masters to the quarterfinals after a two-conference playoff drought and the team almost reached the finals for the first time in franchise history but fell short to TNT in the semifinals.

In 12 games, the former Best Player of the Conference logged in 15.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.7 steals.

Despite the exchange, Abueva made it clear that he has no resentment for the team, in fact, was forever grateful for guiding him during the 16-month suspension due to a string of on-court controversies.

“Wala akong sama ng loob sa Phoenix. Wala akong cheche bureche o ano. Ang akin, andiyan sila, gumabay sila sa’kin simula nung na-suspend ako,” Abueva expressed.

“‘Di nila ako pinabayaan. Lalo ‘yung management, sobrang andyan sila, nakatulong sa akin. Hinding-hindi talaga ako pinabayaan,” he added.