RJ Abarrientos vows to get better as Ginebra looks to take the lead in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT.
Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos knows he needs to step up big time in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
This after ending up with only one point on 0-of-7 shooting from the field even as the Gin Kings pulled off a thrilling 71-70 win over TNT in Game 2, tying the best-of-seven series at one game each.
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The misfiring Abarrientos took responsibility for his subpar performance, one that saw him take an ill-advised four-pointer in the final moments of the match at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The botched shot happened with still 1:24 remaining in regulation and the Gin Kings actually trailing 69-70, leaving Ginebra coach Tim Cone looking pissed.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, talagang nangyayari 'yun eh. I think open ako that time, parang sobrang bilis ng nangyayari. So yeah, sorry, ganun lang, tao lang, nagkakamali,” said Abarrientos.
“Kailangan ko lang mag-move forward. Bata pa, young career para sa akin so tignan ko lang, and let's see kung anong matutulong ko sa Game 3. Ayun 'yung pinaka-crucial, yung Game 3, dahil 1-1 na tayo ngayon. So everybody's ball game again, so 0-0.”
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Fortunately for the young playmaker, Ginebra veterans like LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar help him get through this slump.
“Yun yung maganda dito sa Ginebra, yun yung community. Yun yung community na ginagalawan ko ngayon, ako yung parang rookie — sinasabi nilang veteran dahil sa [naglaro] sa ibang bansa but no, marami pa rin akong dapat matutunan,” Abarrientos said.
“(Si) Kuya LA, ilang years na ba naglalaro sa PBA? Kuya Japeth. Sino pa ba? JB, na naglalaro sa ibang bansa. For me, parang bunso eh, marami po kong kailangan i-explore, mapulot sa kanila.”
RJ added: “Hanggang sa tumagal nang tumagal, kailangan mo lang tanggapin eh. Kasi pag inako mo or nagalit ka sa sarili mo, may sinisi ka, walang mangyayari sayo. Yung game na yun, sakin yun. Walang doubt yun. Pero yung panalo, samin yun. Yun pinaka maganda.”
The nephew of PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos looks forward to putting up a better game when Game 3 rolls along Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Gametime is set at 7:30 p.m.