JOHN Abis admitted he was surprised to play for Barangay Ginebra in all but 19 seconds of the fourth quarter of Game Two against TNT in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The No. 23 overall pick in the last PBA Rookie Draft was summoned from the bench with Ginebra trailing, 78-59, at the end of the third quarter. And as the Gin Kings mounted a comeback, coach Tim Cone opted to keep Abis in the game alongside the likes of Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos.
READ Ginebra rookie John Abis has earned the team's trust, says Cone
“Masaya po at nagulat din kasi ako ‘yung binunot ni Coach Tim,” said Abis in an interview prior to Game 3 of the best-of-seven chamionship series on Sunday. “Hindi ko rin po in-expect. Nagulat talaga ako na naglaro ako.”
Abis even scored a lay-up off a leak-out and a feed from Brownlee during a 6-0 run that trimmed a 98-88 TNT lead to just 98-94.
The unheralded freshman out of Perpetual Help appeared to be on his way to scoring again when he received another pass from Brownlee, but an overeager Abis lost the ball on his way up.
That proved to be Ginebra's last stand as TNT held on to a 101-94 win in Game 2.
Abis admitted that, at first, nerves got the better of him when he was called upon in the fourth quarter, but was nonetheless thankful for the confidence shown him by Ginebra coaches - and Brownlee for trusting him enough with the rock.
“Kabado, then super saya kasi Ginebra pa. Alam naman natin ‘yung fans ng Ginebra. Nakapaglaro pa ako ng finals,” said Abis. “Thankful ako kay Kuya Justin kasi binigyan niya ako ng tiwala na ipasa sa akin ‘yung bola, knowing na rookie ako, pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako.
“Iniisip ko na lang na sayang ang opportunity na binunot ako ni coach,” he added.
Abis said it helped that Ginebra assistant coach Olsen Racela happened to be his coach at Perpetual Help and runs more or less the same system as Ginebra with the Altas.
“Malaking tulong sa akin kasi ‘yung tinatakbo namin na sistema sa Perpetual lalo na sa defense, almost same lang. Konti lang ang in-adjust ko,” said Abis.
Abis said he will be ready if called upon in Game 3.
“Merong expectation pero always ready lang. Kung ano lang ang ibigay ni coach Tim, ‘yun lang,” said Abis.
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