RJ Abarrientos eager to take revenge as Ginebra meets TNT in PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals

There’s probably no one as hungry as RJ Abarrientos as the Ginebra rookie looks to exact revenge on TNT in the upcoming PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

To this day, Abarrientos still feels the sting of the Gin Kings' Governors' Cup Finals loss to the very same Tropang Giga late last year.

“As a player yun yung pride mo, natalo ka ng Finals last conference. Siguro this time mas marami kang ico-consider, marami kang titignan, marami ka babalikan na ano ba naging kulang, ano ba kailangan mo i-improve, ano kailangan mo gawin this time,” Abrrientos told One Sports on Monday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals press conference.

That pain, he added, will be his motivation heading into the best-of-seven series, which will start on Friday, March 14 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

[RELATED: PBA Finals schedule: Ginebra to challenge TNT again, this time for Commissioner's Cup crown]

“But at the end of the day, I’m very happy and thankful kasi nakabalik kami ng Finals. This time di ko hahayaan na ganun-ganun lang, na matatalo kami,” added the Ginebra rookie.

Unlike the previous conference, Ginebra is fielding in a reinforced lineup as the Gin Kings welcome back Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray, both returning from their respective injuries and long layoffs.

There’s also Troy Rosario, who was acquired by the team in free agency before the mid-season conference unfurled.

Abarrientos is hopeful they now have more than enough to flip the script against the Tropang Giga.

“Siguro ang madadala ko dito [na lessons], yung nakikita ko mas mag didiin sakin, mas magti-trigger sakin, yung talo namin. Obviously mas pinalakas kami ngayon, sana mas magampanan namin yun as a team,” said the spitfire guard.

“Together with the additional players like Troy, Miah, and Jamie, sana maging better yung [performance namin ngayon kesa] nung last conference… sana mas maging pino pa kami this time sa rematch namin with TNT.”