WHEN Justin Brownlee buried the game-winning three-pointer in Game Two of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, RJ Abarrientos was in a state of shock as to what transpired.
The Barangay Ginebra rookie was still in high school when Brownlee buried the title-clinching buzzer-beating three over Allen Durham to win the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
Fast forward to Game Two and Abarrientos was on the court when Brownlee made a similar three-pointer over Durham that gave Ginebra the 104-103 win that eventually gave the Gin Kings a sweep of the best-of-five series.
READ: Durham not surprised anymore after another Brownlee takeover
Abarrientos said he felt like he was time travelling as he was on the floor to see for himself how Brownlee came through in the clutch.
“If you see my, I was stunned nung tira ni Justin Brownlee. Napa-wow na lang ako,” said Abarrientos, who was 17 years old when he saw on TV Brownlee’s heroics.
“Kasi way back in 2016, Game Six against Meralco. Nanonood ako. High school lang ako nun. Ngayon, parang nilagay lang ako sa game na teammate ko si Justin tapos ginawa niya uli ‘yun na teammate niya ako,” said Abarrientos.
Even afterwards, Abarrientos said he is still stunned about Brownlee’s heroics that led Barangay Ginebra to the Governors’ Cup semifinals.
“Sobrang grateful, blessed ako na nakita ko ‘yun, na-witness ko ‘yung greatness ni Justin Brownlee sa Ginebra. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin (ako makapaniwala), hindi ko alam paano ako makaka-move on kasi nanalo na naman kami,” said Abarrientos.
Abarrientos made sure that they didn’t need another clutch shot from Brownlee in order to finish off the series.
The No. 3 pick in the 49th Season draft also had a hand in the quarterfinal sweep over Meralco as Abarrientos had 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists in their 113-106 win in Game Three last Monday.
When asked about his play in only his third playoff game in the PBA, Abarrientos said he made sure not to overthink, and made sure to be aggressive especially in the fourth.
“Hindi lang siguro ako masyado nag-isip. Nakikita ko na masyadong tight ‘yung team. Parang pag endgame, of course, Justin Brownlee pang-end game. Nakikita ko na sa end game, medyo nahihirapan kami pag wala ‘yung bola kay Justin. So kailangan namin mag-create ng iba pang puwede naming gawin na hindi makakasakit sa team,” said Abarrientos.
“Nag-try lang ako maging aggressive. Nakita niyo naman si Stephen Holt, naging aggressive. Si Mav, naging aggressive. Lahat kami naging aggressive. As a team, nagawa naman namin ‘yun na katulong si JB,” said Abarrientos.
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