WHEN the game goes down the wire, Barangay Ginebra can lean on Justin Brownlee to take and make the big shots.
But nowadays, there is another player who can be a source of points when needed.
RJ Abarrientos has also emerged to be a go-to-guy for the Gin Kings, and Brownlee is impressed with how the sophomore guard who was recently named Best Player of the Conference has developed in such a short period.
“RJ has been unbelievable,” he said in an interview prior to the ongoing best-of-seven finals, currently tied at 2-2. “I guess there are certain points in the game where we can lean on him to be that guy.”
Abarrientos won the BPC in only his fifth conference in the league. Last season, the 5-foot-11 guard captured Rookie of the Year, his second for his career, as he won the similar plum in the Korean Basketball League in 2023 when he officially turned pro.
“He has definitely made some huge steps,” said Brownlee. “Coming in last year, he was a rookie. I think he adjusted to the league very well right away. But you can see now the progression that he made in just a year's time.”
“He is playing like a veteran now. Before, he played like a veteran but even more so now. He knows how to control the game, control the offense, even how to pick his spots dealing with the physicality, and (when the opponent is) denying the ball.”
READ: Abarrientos is Best Player of Conference; Brownlee named best import
In the same conference that the nephew of legendary Johnny Abarrientos won BPC, Brownlee wrested his fourth Best Import plum, becoming the first teammates to win the two top individual awards since Brownlee and Scottie Thompson did it in the 2022-23 Commissioner's Cup.
Barangay's best
Brownlee and Abarrientos have become the Gin Kings' brand new 1-2 punch with the amount of points they have been putting on the board. During the tailend of the semifinals series against Rain or Shine, the two were converting the bulk of points for their side.
Brownlee had 32 points and Abarrientos had 31 in Game 5, as Ginebra defeated the Elasto Painters, 111-104. Brownlee then notched 31 and Abarrientos 30 in the series clincher, with the Gin Kings overcoming RoS, 118-107.
Brownlee also lauded Abarrientos for his willingness to learn new things with the help of coach Tim Cone and his staff.
“You have to give coach Tim a lot of credit. He definitely added some things with RJ in previous practices and seeing things on film that he can do better. You have to give RJ credit, he came out and he did exactly what coach Tim wanted him to do and he was very successful,” he said.
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