A good reminder for the fans, too.
Playing a game and getting paid for it? It sounds like a scam, but that is a reality for professional athletes around the world. It’s a lucrative career that sets up families, sometimes for life. It's a job that can grant fame, or heck, even power.
It’s the dream.
But like any job, it requires work—which is where it all starts to not feel like a game anymore. This is also where it seems to hit right in the feels for RJ Abarrientos, who has enjoyed an outstanding debut year in the KBL as he was also named Rookie of the Year.
Abarrientos, currently back in the Philippines as the KBL is on offseason, may have been reminded of the grind he has to go through after seeing the Instagram post of co-KBL hooper, Ethan Alvano (who also has Filipino roots himself).
“I feed my family with this, I gotta get to it!” The Fil-Am guard wrote on a post filled with his basketball training photos.
The FEU alum, who has been wowing both South Korean and Filipino fans with his recent play, shared Alvano’s IG upload on his own page—with his emotions felt through the letters and emojis.
“Caption!!!” RJ wrote.
To be where he is right now, the 5-foot-11 guard didn’t only have to push himself to the limit in the gym. He also had to endure being away from his family and loved ones, while he plays ball with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus. Not just to make a name for himself, but to secure a good future for his loved ones.
Alvano’s words were indeed a reality check for players and fans alike, that being a professional athlete is not all fun and games. Alvano, Abarrientos, and the many imports who have played in the PBA—they all have to travel around the world to get roster spots and paychecks.
For RJ, he has a fairly young career, thus, he has a lot of years to continue grinding. Inspiring words like Alvano’s will only help the former Gilas point guard to direct his steps in the right path.