RJ Abarrientos, Ulsan Hyundai inch closer to semis matchup vs Rhenz Abando’s Anyang KGC 


At a glance

  • Filipino import Abarrientos tallied 12 points and six assists to close in on a potential best-of-five semifinals meeting with Rhenz Abando’s Anyang KGC, which advanced straight to a semis berth after finishing the regular season as the top seed.


RJ Abarrientos and the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus moved a win away from a semifinals bid after an 84-69 rout of the Goyang Carrot Jumpers in Game Three of their best-of-five quarterfinals in the Korean Basketball League Thursday, April 6, at the Goyang Stadium.

The Mobis Phoebus bucked a slow first half to gain the 2-1 series lead over the Carrot Jumpers.

Filipino import Abarrientos tallied 12 points and six assists to close in on a potential best-of-five semifinals meeting with Rhenz Abando’s Anyang KGC, which advanced straight to a semis berth after finishing the regular season as the top seed.

American import Paige Grim led Ulsan after dropping a double-double performance of 31 points and 14 rebounds to go along with three blocks, three steals and two assists.

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Ulsan Hyundai's imports Filipino RJ Abarrientos and American Paige Grim. (Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus on Facebook)

Seo Myeong-jin added 15 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Kim Tae-wan chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in the dominant team effort.

After trailing seven in the third quarter, 49-42, Seo and Grim took turns to put the Mobis Phoebus back on the scoreboard with a 10-2 run capped by Seo’s huge and-1 layup that made it a slim 52-51 advantage.

Now up by one, Abarrientos was then sent to the line with four minutes to go after being fouled from beyond the arc and sank the three freebies to extend Ulsan’s lead by four.

From then on, the momentum has completely shifted to the Ulsan side as they pulled away going into the fourth quarter where it gained the biggest lead of the match, 74-62.

As if there was more ire to vent, the Mobis Phoebus continued the beating with Abarrientos drilling in a final three-point shot with half a minute left in the contest as they bounced back from the Game Two loss.

Ulsan took care of the opener with an 86-71 win, but Goyang tied the series with a similar 86-79 fightback in Game Two.

Lee Jung-hyun paced the Carrot Jumpers with 26 points, while Dedric Lawson contributed 19 of his own.

In the other semis affair, reigning champion SK Knights eye a sweep when they face KCC Egis on Friday, April 7.

Abarrientos and Ulsan seeks to wrap up the quarters series when they take on Goyang in Game Four on Saturday, April 8.