RJ thrilled over uncle joining Barangay Ginebra
RJ Abarrientos and his wife were on a train in Taiwan enjoying the offseason vacation when they heard of the exciting news.
“There was a wave of emotions when we found out on social media that tito is joining Ginebra,” Abarrientos said, referring to his uncle Johnny Abarrientos’ move to Barangay Ginebra as part of Tim Cone’s coaching staff for the PBA’s 50th season.
The younger Abarrientos has been ribbing the PBA great about the possibility of them being on one team since being drafted third overall by the Gin Kings last season. The man known as “The Flying A,” meanwhile, has been an assistant with Magnolia for more than a decade.
But the appointment of LA Tenorio as Magnolia’s new coach triggered one change after another involving the Hotshots and the Gin Kings, also resulting in Johnny’s transfer to the team he last played for in his PBA career.
“I’m just thankful and very excited that we are now on the same team,” RJ said. “Hopefully we can have a good tandem, and hopefully we can win one, two or three [titles] together.”
It’s not only going to be a family affair at Ginebra for uncle and nephew.
Johnny is also joining forces once more with Cone, who was his mentor during the glory days of Alaska in the 90s. He was also an assistant when Cone steered Magnolia, then known as San Mig Super Coffee, to the 2014 Grand Slam.
“I don’t know if I could still run the Triangle [Offense],” Johnny said of Cone’s signature offensive set. “Hopefully, there’s something left in my memory and I could still help, not only on the coaching standpoint but guiding individual players, especially the guards.”
That will obviously include RJ, who is coming off a solid rookie season manning the point for the Gin Kings, but had his moments of being a work in progress. No longer on different sides of the Ginebra-Magnolia sibling rivalry, the two can have a more intimate talk on how RJ can progress with his career still in the infant stages.
“We only have conversations at home, of course being opponents then,” Johnny said. “But blood’s thicker than water and I’ve been giving advice even when we were with different teams.
“But now it’s easier, because we’re together.”
