Abarrientos pays no heed to ‘flopper’ socmed tag
Barangay Ginebra guard RJ Abarrientos is hearing the noise but isn’t letting it affect him.
Abarrientos has become the brunt of social media memes for the way he plays, branded by netizens as a “flopper” after the Gin Kings’ quarterfinal win over Converge.
When asked if it had affected him, the Far Eastern product simply shrugged it off.
“Wala. It doesn’t bother me. It’s just part of the game,” Abarrientos told the Inquirer.
Abarrientos on Wednesday played like no comment bugged his mind at all, finishing with 18 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
‘Part of the game’
Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough as the Kings succumbed to San Miguel Beer, 93-84, evening the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
Abarrientos, though, took some time to point out the reason why he was branded as such.
“It’s all part of the game. Sometimes, you have to play whoever’s guarding you,” he said. “If they allow it to happen, I’ll keep doing things like that.
“That’s how physicality is. You have to keep selling (the call). But I have to figure it out,” he went on. “This SMB team is different. They can play physically without fouling.”
Ginebra will come into Friday’s third game as the underdog, especially after how San Miguel’s bench delivered in the series-equalizing win.
