Ginebra coach Tim Cone talked about RJ Abarrientos and his uncle Johnny after forcing a deciding match against Converge in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Apparently, there is another thing Johnny and RJ Abarrientos share aside from their surname.
Just ask Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“They want to be point guards... pure point guards. Both of them are really capable scorers, and they kind of forget that part of the game sometimes. So they need to be reminded to take a few shots,” said Cone, who was PBA legend Johnny’s coach at Alaska in the 90s.
“His DNA is to be a point guard and set people up, but he’s got a lot more ability than just your normal point guard.”
Johnny is RJ’s uncle and the Gin Kings' assistant coach.
[WATCH: RJ Abarrientos logs career-high as Ginebra drags Converge to do-or-die | PBA Highlights]
Cone had this to say after the young Abarrientos set a career-high 35 points in Ginebra's 105-85 win over Converge that forced a sudden death in their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinal showdown Thursday, Dec. 25.
[RELATED STORY: Pineda urges Converge players to stop complaining about officiating: 'Wala na tayong magagawa']
The must-win match for the Gin Kings saw RJ settle for playmaking instead of finding his spots in the first two quarters.
At some point in the second period, Cone said he needed to remind his prized ward to be aggressive.
That's exactly what he did, and he got the needed response.
[RELATED STORY: Ginebra ace RJ Abarrientos posts career-high 35 vs Juan GDL, Converge in PBA quarters]
Abarrientos shot six triples and ultimately helped Ginebra force a deciding match against the FiberXers.
“He’s got that capability. We all know that. We’ve seen it in the past. He can get going almost Steph Curry-like,” Cone said of the young playmaker.
“He can just find the area that’s open on the floor, throw it up there, and it’s going to go in.”
The same is expected from Abarrientos when the Gin Kings take on the FiberXers anew to try to book a ticket to the semifinals Sunday, Dec. 28.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.