Abarrientos lives up to expectations

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ARMED with skills and a high basketball IQ honed by overseas experience, it came as no surprise that Rhon Jay “RJ” Abarrientos easily made the regular rotation of Ginebra and repeatedly got deployed in crunch time.

Abarrientos, the No. 3 pick this year and the nephew of PBA great Johnny, is proving that Tim Cone was right in trusting him to lead the team in high-stakes games.

In the Game 5 tiebreaker of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series with San Miguel Beer last Friday, the 25-year-old guard erupted for a new PBA high of 28 points, taking the scoring cudgels and helping get the Gin Kings get on the hill with a 121-92 romp.

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Two nights later, the 5-foot-11 dynamo accounted for 16 points, highlighted by a clutch three-point shot and nifty assists that led to a highlight dunk by Japeth Aguilar and a layup by Scottie Thompson in the fourth as the Gin Kings closed out the series with a 102-99 win, forging a title rematch with TNT.

With his spectacular play, Abarrientos (18.3 points spiked by a 44 percent three-point shooting, 4 assists and 3.3 rebounds in three matches) earned the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week citation for Oct. 16 to 20 – the last to be given by the covering media for the conference.

“I just want to improve myself every practice, every game. I’m just doing my thing every day na maging better as a person as a player,” said Abarrientos, who suited up for Korean club Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in 2022 and won the KBL Rookie of the Year honors. He then brought his act to the Japan B. League via the Shinshu Brave Warriors in 2023 before applying for the PBA draft.

“And sobrang thankful ako sa Ginebra coaches, sa ibinibigay nila sa aking confidence and, of course, sa fans ng Ginebra, hindi ko ito magagawa kung hindi dahil sa kanila.”

Playing mostly off the bench, Abarrientos has seamlessly blended with one-time MVP Thompson in what is fast emerging as a new lethal backcourt tandem.

“Si RJ, talagang parang beterano na maglaro. We all know ‘yung experience niya sa international,” said Thompson of Abarrientos, who is expected to play a key role when the Gin Kings challenge TNT for the crown beginning this Sunday.

With a proven pedigree and the right mindset, there is no telling how far the latest edition of “Abarrientos” can go in the pro league.

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