JAYSON Castro may be out of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals, but RJ Abarrientos doesn’t feel that he will have an easier time with the veteran out.
Abarrientos had his hands full against Castro during the Governors’ Cup finals last November which ended with the Gin Kings on the losing end against the Tropang Giga.
The Barangay Ginebra rookie tried to extend the series when he had 31 points in Game 6 of the Governors’ Cup finals, but the TNT veteran was eager to claim another title when he had 13 points and six rebounds on his way to capturing the championship trophy, his ninth, and the Finals MVP, his third of his career.
READ: Chot admits Castro's absence makes TNT's title bid a lot harder
With Castro out due to a ruptured patellar tendon tear in his right knee for this Commissioner’s Cup finals, Abarrientos said it still remains a hard route to the crown as he expects other TNT players to also step up in their bid to win another championship.
“Mahirap pa rin,” said Abarrientos. “Hindi naman ibig sabihin na wala si Kuya Jayson, ‘yun na ‘yung parang give up na ‘yung Talk ‘N Text. So I think gagawa sila ng paraan. That’s why [Game 5], tinapos nila ‘yung Rain or Shine.
Barangay Ginebra and TNT closed out their respective semifinal series in similar fashion with the Gin Kings defeating NorthPort, 108-103, and the Tropang Giga overcoming Rain or Shine, 93-85, last Friday.
In the semifinal series, Abarrientos brought stability in the point guard position when he averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
Against TNT, Abarrientos said the team is more focused on themselves, finding ways to further improve their chemistry especially with Troy Rosario, Jamie Malonzo, and Jeremiah Gray now playing for this finals series.
“We are not looking na si Kuya Jayson, wala, players pagod, injuries. Siguro ‘yung binabahala lang namin ngayon is ‘yung chemistry namin ngayon. Nandiyan si Jamie, si Miah, nakabalik sila. And then, si Troy nasa amin na.”
Abarrientos enters his second finals in as many conferences and the 25-year-old is only grateful to have another opportunity to improve his craft and go up against the league’s veterans.
“Thankful ako na makakalaban ko at makatapat ko ‘yung ibang players like Kuya Rey (Nambatac) at iba pang players na mga beterano sa PBA. Sobrang happy ako na may mga naabutan ako na veteran guards na makakatulong sa akin, kung hindi kakampi ko, kalaban ko naman,” said Abarrientos.
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