ANTIPOLO – RJ ABARRIENTOS admitted he got schooled by Jayson Castro in Game One of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup Finals.
The Barangay Ginebra rookie had no answer for Castro when TNT turned to the veteran in the third quarter, where the 38-year-old had 12 of his 14 points in TNT’s 104-88 win over Ginebra on Sunday night.
READ Vintage Castro sets tone as TNT overwhelms Ginebra in Game One
It was a forgettable night for Abarrientos, who finished with five points on 2-of-7 shooting from the field, with his shots only falling in the fourth quarter. He was 0-of-4 in the first three quarters of Game One.
The 25-year-old Abarrientos admitted he was outplayed by Castro, especially during that key third-quarter stretch.
“Pinakita ni Kuya Jayson kung sino talaga ‘yung Jayson Castro na iniidolo ko,” said Abarrientos. “Nakita niyo naman kung paano ako atakihin kanina.”
Abarrientos said he was left in awe by the way Castro was able to use his speed and his change of pace in choice stretches to his advantage.
“’Yung pacing, ‘yung bagal bilis niya at kung paano niya nagagawa ‘yung sa age niya. For me, marami pang kakaining bigas. Marami pang kulang," said the No. 3 pick in this season's PBA Rookie Draft.
“Pero nakikita ko naman ‘yung Jayson Castro na kailangan higitan or kailangang tapatan ng isang RJ,” said Abarrientos.
Abarrientos vowed to bounce back from Game One that saw all of his teammates also struggle from the field, going just 2-of-21 from threes. The two made threes came from him and Scottie Thompson during the fourth quarter.
“Sabi ko nga kanina, kailangan ko lang din basahin or panoorin ‘yung viewing and learn from it. Hats off kay Kuya Jayson. Sobrang galing talaga at sobrang bilis,” said Abarrientos.
Abarrientos didn’t blame first-game jitters or the lengthy break as the reason for the loss.
“We just came out flat, not just me but pati ‘yung team. Kaya rin kami nag-bad start nung first quarter. But, for us naman, sa huddle and sa dugout, we feel na nandoon pa rin ‘yung intensity for the next game. We are looking forward for that,” said the nephew of PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos.
“Basketball lang, may matatalo, may mananalo,” he added.
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