RJ ABARRIENTOS and the rest of the locals made little noise in Game 6 of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Sunday.
Abarrientos had his lowest scoring output in the best-of-seven championship series with only six points on an atrocious 1-of-12 shooting. Although he dished off five assists and had two rebounds, Abarrientos didn’t make any of his three three-point shots, the first time in the finals that he failed to buy a basket from that spot.
He was also 0-of-2 from fours and 1-of-7 from twos.
Abarrientos and the other Ginebra locals accounted for only 42 percent of the team’s offense in Game 6 which Barangay Ginebra lost, 98-90, with Justin Brownlee doing the heavy lifting by scoring 52 points.
That can't happen in Game 7, says Abarrientos.
“‘Yun ‘yung mga hindi puwedeng mangyari, ‘yung mga locals hindi nakapaglaro ng maayos. Even me,” said Abarrientos.
The reigning Best Player of the Conference also rued how Ginebra was unable to neutralize Chris McCullough after he exploded for 53 points.
“And then, grabe din si McCullough nung fourth quarter. Talagang nag-explode. Credit to McCullough,” said Abarrientos.
Abarrientos has been dealing with different defenders from TNT big men Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to guards Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy. He needs to figure out a way to get past each of them in Game 7 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Kaya Game 7 kasi lahat ng puwedeng gamitin, puwedeng ibato even next game, iba ang makikita mo. Kahit kami rin naman, ganun din ang ginagawa namin,” said Abarrientos. “Ang adjustment namin ‘yung importante ngayon sa Game 7.
"Kung ano makikita namin sa video (na kailangan naming gawin), we will see. Eto ang pinakamaganda sa basketball, sa lahat ng sports, it’s Game 7. Kailangan naming tanggapin [ang talo sa Game 6] and move on na lang."
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