BARANGAY Ginebra used the No. 3 pick it acquired in a mega-trade with Terrafirma on the eve of the draft by picking RJ Abarrientos.
Magnolia assistant coach and PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos, RJ's uncle, represented the new Gin King on the stage. The younger Abarrientos is currently in Taiwan, playing for Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas in the 39th William Jones Cup.
"I told Johnny up on that stage that if RJ could be half the player his uncle was, he's gonna be the best player in the PBA," said head coach Tim Cone, who also mentored the 'Flying A' at his peak with Alaska.
'We needed to get younger'
Ginebra got into position to select Abarrientos after a mega-trade on Saturday morning that shipped out Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
In exchange, the Dyip gave up consensus Season 48 Rookie of the Year Stephen Holt, modern big man Isaac Go, while also receiving the Gin Kings' original No. 10 selection.
"On our part, we felt we needed to get younger," Cone answered then after being asked about moving Standhardinger and Pringle.
The Gin Kings did just that in taking the 24-year-old Abarrientos, who's 11 and 13 years younger than Standhardinger and Pringle, respectively, to go as well with Holt (32) and Go (28).
Abarrientos is Ginebra's highest draft pick since tabbing former MVP Scottie Thompson fifth overall back in 2015.
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