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RJ Abarrientos not only shares a surname with his uncle and PBA legend Johnny. They now also share a championship together.
When RJ Abarrientos first decided to pursue a basketball career, he knew his biggest opponent wouldn’t be the five opponents on the court. Rather, it would be that legendary point guard, perhaps the best the PBA has ever seen, with whom he shares a surname.
Is he as good as his uncle? He’s heard that since he first laced up his sneakers, as he soon discovered that having “Abarrientos” printed on the back of his jersey was both a blessing and a burden.
When Barangay Ginebra drafted RJ Abarrientos with the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, the comparisons and expectations only grew. For not only was Johnny Abarrientos also the third overall pick 31 years prior, he is a Ginebra assistant coach, which meant that they would be working together on a daily basis.
The comparisons were inevitable for reasons that went beyond their shared surname. Johnny and RJ are both smallish guards who can take over a game at any given time. They both first made names for themselves in the FEU system. They both served the national team with distinction. But that’s where the similarities end.
Whereas Johnny, the 1996 MVP, was a pure point guard who had the best court vision of any player in PBA history, RJ is more of a scoring guard. And what a scoring guard he is.
For the entire Finals, RJ Abarrientos averaged 16.4 points – best among the Ginebra locals – 3.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists. It wasn’t just the statistics, though. It was the timing of his baskets.
Some of what RJ did in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup has bordered on the ridiculous. There were the back-to-back 30-point games in the semifinals against Rain or Shine. There were those two four-point shots near the end of Game 2 of the Finals that nearly towed Ginebra to an improbable comeback win. There was that casual, almost nonchalant three-point shot over Chris McCullough to beat the shot clock buzzer in Game 3. Then there was that double behind-the-back move capped by a pull-up jumper that left Rey Nambatac in the dust in Game 4.
In the middle of the Finals, RJ Abarrientos won his first Best Player of the Conference award, and deservedly so. The voting wasn’t even close. He now had an individual award.
A week later came the result that he desired, something sweeter and more special. On Wednesday night, both Johnny and RJ won a PBA title together after Barangay Ginebra toppled the TNT Tropang 5G in an epic best-of seven finals series that went the distance. It was RJ’s first, and it was the culmination of his special bond with his uncle.
“Ito ‘yung goal,” he said after being asked about how it measured up to his BPC. “Kahit sino sa amin [hindi] makakuha ng individual (award). Kahit hindi sa Ginebra team, basta champion ‘yung pinag-usapan, lahat kami champion. Lahat kami nakakuha ng award.
“’Yun ‘yung pinaka-hinihintay namin dito.”
The championship capped a grueling playoff run for the Barangay that saw pushed to six games by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the semifinals and seven by the Tropang 5G in the finals. Through it all, Johnny was there to continue pushing his nephew.
“It’s a family business kumbaga sa trabaho,” RJ said. “Lagi akong gina-guide ni Tito. Lagi kong sinasabi ‘yan sa interviews.”
For his part, the normally stoic and media-shy Johnny had a lot to say about the championship run.
“This has been something special for me kasi being on the same team with RJ, hindi madali. Pero wala akong choice dahil alam ko he is my blood. I’m very blessed.
“Speechless ako. I can never imagine na magsasama kami ni RJ sa isang team tapos ganito pa ka grabe ang impact with Ginebra. All the awards and another championship is so much special for me.”
It’s still too early to say whether RJ Abarrientos will equal or surpass the accomplishments of Johnny Abarrientos. Ultimately that might be a bridge too far, for anyone. What is certain, though, is that right now they’re primed to make a run at several championships together, and that the surname “Abarrientos” will continue to be associated with winning.
Banner images by Ed Simon/KLIQ, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions
RJ Abarrientos is a Barangay Ginebra guard and nephew of PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos. Both were third overall picks, played at FEU, and represented the national team.
RJ averaged 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game across the seven-game Finals series — the best scoring average among Ginebra locals — and was named Best Player of the Conference.
Ginebra defeated TNT Tropang 5G in seven games to claim the title, having also survived a six-game semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
Johnny was a pure point guard known for elite court vision. RJ is a scoring guard — built for takeover performances and contested shot-making.
Johnny is a Ginebra assistant coach, meaning he and RJ work together daily. RJ has consistently credited his uncle’s guidance throughout the team’s championship run.