Far Eastern University guard RJ Abarrientos credited his Gilas Pilipinas stint for making an easier rookie transition year in the UAAP.
"Rookie year, rookie season ko but sa international may experience. Siyempre mas high level, mas high 'yong intensity (It's my rookie year but I have experience on the international level which has higher level and intensity of basketball)," said the 5-foot-11 Abarrientos, who scored 18 points spiked by four triples to go with five rebounds, and two assists against University of Santo Tomas in the opener of the UAAP Season 84 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Saturday, March 26.
RJ, nephew of PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos, hopes to deliver anew in the next few games with the same performance as he did not only against UST but during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers last June 2021.
The 21-year-old Abarrientos was one of the key cogs in Gilas' 81-78 win against South Korea in the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers as he posted six points and three assists off the bench.
"Marami akong na-adapt, 'di lang sa sarili ko, sa program na binigay ng Gilas. Halos lahat ng players nag-grown doon sa team na 'yon (I have adapted many things from the Gilas program. Not only me but my teammates have grown from that experience) ," added Abarrientos.
"'Yong mga in-apply ko ngayon sa team (FEU) ko, siguro 'yon na siguro 'yong RJ na ginamit ko noong naglaro ako sa Gilas (What I have applied with FEU today, I think that's RJ you have witnessed as a Gilas player)."
Abarrientos will meet Gilas teammates SJ Belangel and Ange Kouame as well as former national team mentor Tab Baldwin on the opposite side of the court when FEU faces Ateneo on Tuesday, March 29 at 1 p.m.