RJ ABARRIENTOS has a great chance of doing something this season that his uncle and PBA great Johnny was not able to do – win the Rookie of the Year honors.
And he also has a chance to do something perhaps no one had ever done – win the Rookie of the Year twice in his career.
The No. 3 pick in the PBA Season 49 draft is seen as a strong candidate to win the award with the his performance in the number of games that he has played including two finals appearances with Barangay Ginebra.
The elder Abarrientos is definitely hoping that his nephew will be able to win the ROY, which could be his second of his career after he won the same award in the Korean Basketball League in 2023 when he played for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
“God-willing, sana mabigyan siya ng chance,” said Johnny. “Kasi ako, ‘yun ang regret ko. ‘Yun ‘yung award na hindi ko nakuha na hoping ako. Pero ganun talaga, hindi naman lahat ibibigay ng Lord sayo.”
“Kung makukuha niya, definitely good for us kasi nakapag-Rookie of the Year na siya sa KBL. Why not? God-willing, sana makuha niya,” said the 1996 MVP.
READ: Amazed Mark Barroca anoints RJ Abarrientos the future of PBA
Abarrientos had an impressive outing in the Commissioner’s Cup where he was a major part of the Barangay Ginebra rotation. He was averaging 13.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for the Gin Kings in their campaign that ended with a runner-up finish behind TNT.
RJ will have another shot at the title in the Philippine Cup, something that also didn't happened during Johnny's rookie year in 1993 where he was also picked at No. 3.
Johnny said he is happy for the 25-year-old RJ, who is making a career for himself and stepping out of the shadows of the surname.
“Ako personally, I never imagined na makakapag-pro si RJ pero [nagawa niya] through hardwork,” said Abarrientos, who is now the assistant coach of Magnolia.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, kailangan mo lang gumawa ng sariling ikaw. Kasi siyempre, mahirap i-fill in ‘yung sapatos ng iba dahil meron siyang dalang last name sa likod.”
“Sabi ko sa kanya, basta trabahuin mo lang. Love mo naman ‘yan eh. Nag-eenjoy ka naman gawin. Na-bless din siya dahil grabe din ‘yung hardwork niya,” said the 54-year-old Johnny.
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