JUST like the rest before him, RJ Abarrientos stressed he’s not after winning the Best Player of the Conference plum of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
For someone who has yet to win a title in his young career in Asia’s pioneering pro league, it’s the championship that matters for the Barangay Ginebra sophomore at the moment.
Never mind if all else points to him as the prohibitive favorite to win the highest conference individual award among local players.
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“Hindi ko naman ina-eye yun, darating naman sa akin yun kung yun ang pabor sa akin, kung yun ang deserve ko,” the flamboyant, 26-year-old nephew of PBA great Johnny Abarrientos.
“I’m just looking forward to get the ‘chip.’ Yun ang pinaka-importante sa amin as a team. Bonus na lang lahat sa amin.”
The coronation is set prior to Game 4 of the finals between Ginebra and TNT on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the Best Import award will likewise be given away.
By cutoff day at the end of the semifinals, Abarrietos, last season’s Rookie of the Year, is in third place in a tight race among him and Robert Bolick of NLEX and San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo.
Last year’s no. 3 overall draft pick posted statistical points of 37.2 to trail Bolick (38.9) and Fajardo (38.6).
But his edge lies in the fact he’s the only one among the five official candidates – including Ricci Rivero and Phoenix and Terrafirma’s Jerrick Ahanmisi – to reach and play in the entire semifinals, where he produced back-to-back 30 points in Games 5 and 6 of Ginebra’s series against Rain or Shine.
Even in the finals, Abarrientos has consistently been ballin’ by averaging 20.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in the best-of-seven title series which the Kings currently lead, 2-1.
Despite the overwhelming odds on his side, the guard out of Far Eastern University said all eyes are currently on the championship hardware.
“Malayo pa. Hindi pa yun ang pinaka-goal ko,” he said. “Kung makuha namin itong ‘chip,’ kung ano yung parating, yun na yun.”
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