Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos during Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Meralco. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—RJ Abarrientos had a chance to change the course of Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals between Ginebra and Meralco Friday night.
In the dying seconds of Game 2, Abarrientos saw an opening to send the game to overtime but misfired on a long-range four-pointer, letting Meralco come away with a 108-104 win over the Gin Kings.
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Ginebra’s prized rooke defended his game-tying attempt, making most of a play that he said was initially meant for Justin Brownlee.
READ; PBA: Meralco beats Ginebra to extend quarterfinals series
“It was a broken play. That was for [Justin Brownlee] but I saw defenders commit to him so I faked the hand-off and saw the rim,” said Abarrientos in Filipino at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday.
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“There were no other options but to shoot that. I’ll take the risk of shooting that, win or lose. I told myself earlier, whether we win or lose, I was open and all I had to do was shoot it.”
Missed equalizer aside, the former Japanese B.League Filipino-import had a huge part in the Gin Kings’ late game rally after they went down by as much as 12 points in the second half.
READ: RJ Abarrientos hit by reality check in PBA Finals debut
Abarrientos finished with 12 points, three assists and two steals off the bench. But he didn’t have the best night from the field as he missed 10 of his 15 attempts.
Despite his shortcomings, though, Abarrientos had no regrets in being the one who tried to send the game to overtime. After all, to him, “that’s basketball.”
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“That’s basketball. We either win or lose and that’s the game,” he said. “We just need to move on and see what else we can see from our films.”
Meralco and Ginebra’s series comes to a head on Sunday for Game 3 at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
