In Game 2, RJ Abarrientos got an up-close and personal look at how good his boyhood idol, Terrence Romeo, can be, with The Bro putting on a scoring spree in the fourth quarter and OT. The extra five minutes were particularly brutal for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel rookie as Romeo all but toyed with the young guard to lead the San Miguel Beermen to victory.
It took three games, but Abarrientos got his comeuppance against Romeo in Game 5 as he poured in a career-high 28 points—including a few with his idol defending him—to help Ginebra to a 121-92 blowout. But, postgame, the Ginebra neophyte made it be known he was just doing his job, as The Bro was doing him in Game 2 of the two teams’ PBA Governors’ Cup semis duel.
“Kuya Terrence, one of the best players na naglaro sa FEU [Tamaraws], my idol,” Abarrientos told reporters after Game 5. “Pero syempre, pagdating sa court, professional tayo, walang friend-friend. Just like Japeth [Aguilar] and June Mar [Fajardo], matagal sila nagsama sa Gilas, pero pagdating dito sa semis, pagdating dito sa trabaho sa professional, wala munang kaibi-kaibigan. Trabaho lang.”
RJ Abarrientos Welcomes the Challenge
Abarrientos, though, would be the first to admit how challenging it is to face off against one’s idol—especially the caliber of a Romeo, who is a three-time champ, a three-time scoring champion, and a seven-time All-Star.
It does not mean he is backing down. On the contrary, he is being fueled by it.
“Napapanood ko lang sila before sa UAAP. Nag-start si Kuya Terrence sa PBA high school palang ako,” Abarrientos later pointed out. “Ngayon mas nacha-challenge ako na bantayan siya, iskoran siya kasi Kuya Terrence ‘yun e, idol ko ‘yun since birth.”
Asked if he enjoys these moments, the former KBL import answered in the affirmative.
He will get more of these moments on Sunday as Ginebra looks to close the show in Game 6.
