TIM Cone can’t help but marvel at RJ Abarrientos’ killer instinct, which was evident in Ginebra’s series-clinching 118-107 win over Rain or Shine last Sunday.
Abarrientos dropped 30 points as he teamed up with three-time Best Import Justin Brownlee in putting the strong finishing kick against the Elasto Painters.
“His determination tonight (Sunday) was just amazing. You can see it, I saw it in the locker room before the game and I saw it yesterday during film viewing,” Cone said following Sunday’s victory to lead steering the Gin Kings to a 4-2 semis series win en route to arranging a Finals tussle with TNT
“He put two huge back-to-back games and that’s huge in the Playoffs.”
Abarrientos, the reigning PBA Rookie of the Year, also had a splendid all-around effort after issuing seven assists, grabbing six rebounds, three steals and a block.
The Ginebra sophomore guard was also in his element when he led the league’s most popular squad to a 3-2 series lead last Friday, where he scored 31 points, along with eight assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Cone took note of the fact that Abarrientos’ character was in full display despite the fact that Rain or Shine threw different defensive looks on him.
“They were doing everything they could to take him out of his game but his strength of character didn’t allow that,” he said.
Cone will now be facing his familiar coaching foe in Chot Reyes, who on Sunday, also steered TNT to a series-clinching 97-94 win against Meralco to seal the last Finals berth.
“I really thought that RJ, Justin and those guys, they really came out with a lot of determination and a lot of desire tonight. And it paid off because we’re now in the finals,” he said.
“We knew if we can get this on, we get to the finals.”
The Gin Kings are now vying for the title for the seventh consecutive conference with Brownlee in tow as import.
Ginebra is out to end three consecutive runner-up finishes to TNT. RICHARD DY
