CHOT Reyes got an opportunity to coach RJ Abarrientos when they were together with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 in Jakarta.
Back then, Abarrientos was about to turn 23 years old and on his way to embark on a professional career overseas in Korea.
In the PBA, Reyes will now be coaching against Abarrientos in the finals for the third time as TNT battles Barangay Ginebra starting Wednesday in the 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
“Baby RJ pa lang siya. Ngayon, Mamang RJ na siya eh,” said Reyes.
Reyes recalled his belief in Abarrientos that he will be an integral part of the Gilas Pilipinas team for that FIBA Asia Cup 2022 competition.
“We always believed in the talent of RJ,” said Reyes. “I think that was the time when I was coaching for the Asia Cup with Coach Nenad (Vucinic) and RJ was there. I really fought hard to make sure that he was part of the line-up.”
Abarrientos saw limited time during that FIBA Asia Cup stint where he averaged only 3.3 points in 5.3 minutes, with his best game being against host Indonesia where he scored eight points in 13 minutes on July 15, 2022.
READ: Abarrientos growing into role as Ginebra go-to guy, says Scottie
But there was a reason behind the paltry minutes.
“Unfortunately, I think the practice the night before the opening, natapilok siya. He turned his ankle,” said Reyes.
Reyes said it was no longer a surprise that Abarrientos is starting to become one of the best players of the league in only his sophomore year. Abarrientos was impeccable during the semifinal series where he scored 30 and 31 points in Games 5 and 6 against Rain or Shine.
“The way he is playing now is no surprise. I really thought that we needed that kind of player in that team before. Like I said, the first time we played them was in his rookie season. Now, he has grown and matured tremendously, hitting back-to-back 30-point games, 60 points in the last two games, that’s no joke, that’s not an accident,” said Reyes.
Abarrientos' performance could determine the outcome of this finals series, and TNT will make sure that they are prepared.
“We will take a really hard look at it and try to figure out how to control (RJ). But that’s just RJ. There is still a guy named JB there, Justin Brownlee, who's a huge problem for any team especially for us. He is a gold standard for all imports,” said Reyes.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
