Barangay Ginebra San Miguel young star RJ Abarrientos. Photo from PBA Images

MANILA — RJ Abarrientos has been living up to expectations as the next star of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The third overall pick of the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft is making a name for himself, delivering 13.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 19 games so far for Ginebra, and he also was a vital part of their semifinals campaign that brought them back to the Finals stage once again. 

However, Abarrientos downplayed these and insisted that he is just doing his job to help make their superstar Justin Brownlee's life easier on the floor. 

"Justin Brownlee, yun lang, Justin Brownlee, wala akong masabi." 

These were RJ's words when asked about their semifinals Game 6 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday after putting up 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. 

READ: Ginebra ousts San Miguel, sets up Govs' Cup finals rematch with TNT

"'Di lang dahil sa offense niya na nagiging madali para sa team namin. May mga unselfish plays siya, hindi siya nanghihingi ng bola. Off-ball okay siya, on-ball, okay siya, so kailangan lang naming tulungan siya," said Abarrientos.

"For us to help JB, kailangan lang namin gumalaw at mag tulungan lang. 'Di naman pwedeng lagi na JB, 50 points, so grateful lang kami na nakakatulong kami," he added.

Abarrientos has indeed contributed to Ginebra's campaign in the semis.

In six games against the Beermen, RJ scattered 13.3 markers, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 boards. But for the former Korean Basketball League (KBL) Rookie of the Year, these numbers — aside from providing aid to Brownlee — were his way of repaying the trust that was given to him by Ginebra head coach Tim Cone and the rest of their staff. 

"Ginagawa ko lang yung rookie duties ko," he said. "Yun kasi yung kulang namin sa bench eh, yung energy type of player. So ako, tinutuloy tuloy ko lang." 

"'Di ko lang rin sinasayang yung tiwala na binibigay sa akin. Sinusuklian ko lang ng magandang effort, so thankful lang ako sa binibigay ng coaches na tiwala sa akin," the 25-year-old added.

Now, the 5-foot-11, former Gilas Pilipinas guard is embracing the challenge of extending his showing in the best-of-7 affair against the TNT Tropang Giga — his first-ever shot at PBA glory. 

READ: Ginebra-TNT Govs’ Cup Finals rematch a story of redemption, contrasting styles

"Looking forward ako makalaban yung mga tinitingala at pinapanood ko noon," shared RJ, who already went up against his fellow former FEU Tamaraws star Terrence Romeo in the semis. 

"Makakalaban ko na sila Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, at yung ibang matatagal na sa PBA. Pero trabaho lang. Kailangan makipag-compete kahit na mga idol ko sila. Siguradong 'di nila ko paiisahin, ng mga beterano na yun, so for me, magiging ready lang ako," added Abarrientos.

And despite only having 19 PBA games so far under his belt, Abarrientos is optimistic that what he learned so far in the playoffs against the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals and SMB in the semis will give him a boost in the championship round.

"Hopefully, makuha namin yung rhythm namin mula sa SMB," he said. "'Di naging madali yung journey ng team namin vs. Meralco and San Miguel, so siguro madala namin yung sa Finals."

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