MANILA — RJ Abarrientos captured the first championship of his basketball career on Wednesday night after helping Barangay Ginebra defeat TNT in Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals and end the franchise’s three-year title drought.
The victory capped a long journey for the 25-year-old guard, who fell short of winning championships in college and during stints in South Korea and Japan before finally reaching the top in the PBA.
“Every league was hard. Every league had challenges for me,” Abarrientos told the Inquirer after Ginebra’s title-clinching win at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Whether you win or lose, there are always people who doubt you mentally and physically on the court. But if you have teammates who trust you, there’s no reason to give up,” he added.
Abarrientos first drew attention as a one-and-done player for Far Eastern University in the UAAP during the pandemic era. Despite his individual success, he did not win a championship.
He later moved to the Korean Basketball League and joined Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus, where he won Rookie of the Year honors but again fell short of a title.
Abarrientos then signed with the Shinshu Brave Warriors in Japan’s B.League. He also left that stint without a championship.
Ginebra selected Abarrientos third overall in the 2024 PBA Draft, but his search for a title continued after the Gin Kings lost back-to-back Finals series to TNT in Season 49.
Throughout the setbacks, Abarrientos said he relied on the guidance of Ginebra’s coaching staff and his uncle, PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos.
“I’m just thankful for my coaches and my Tito. Those are the most important people for me,” he said.
“My ears are always open and I’m always willing to listen. I’m still far from my goal, but I’m thankful because I’m surrounded by winning coaches.”
Abarrientos’ breakthrough conference became even more memorable after he won the Best Player of the Conference award.
At the time, he said he would not celebrate the individual honor without a team championship.
That changed on Wednesday.
After missing out on titles in the UAAP, the KBL and the B.League, Abarrientos finally secured the championship he had chased throughout his career.
“I said before that individual awards aren’t worth celebrating,” he said. “But this time, it’s time to celebrate.”