RJ Abarrientos is more focused on helping Ginebra fully take down the twice-to-beat Converge in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
RJ Abarrientos winced in pain in the waning seconds of Ginebra’s 105-85 win over Converge in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals on Christmas Day.
This happened with only 31.2 ticks left to play and the outcome already decided, after Archie Concepcion after appeared to have hit Abarrientos in the midsection with an elbow.
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Concepcion was assessed a flagrant foul penalty 1 for the incident.
Asked about the supposed hit, the Ginebra spitfire guard said he found the move unnecessary.
“Siguro tsinempuhan na talagang pagod na lahat ng players eh. So talagang nag-try syang mag hit,” said Abarrientos, who earned the Player of the Game nod after setting a career-high 35 points.
“That’s unnecessary for me. Talagang to be honest nag jab siya sa may stomach ko.”
Whether it’s intentional or not, Abarrientos just brushed it off as the Gin Kings went on to force a deciding match against the FiberXers.
“Pero that’s just the game. Mind games. Okay lang na gingwa niya yun. So just move on. Wala naman para sakin yun,” he said.
Would this be an added motivation for him when the two teams meet again in the win-or-go-home match set for Sunday, Dec. 28?
“My motivation is to win. Wala akong paki sa nangyari. I don’t need extra (motivation),” said Abarrientos with a smile.
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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.