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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider RJ Abarrientos finds himself in rare position as two-time Rookie of the Year awardee

RJ Abarrientos finds himself in rare position as two-time Rookie of the Year awardee

Published Oct 6, 2025 01:15 pm

At A Glance

  • RJ Abarrientos found himself in an odd position on Sunday, Oct. 5.
RJ Abarrientos found himself in an odd position on Sunday, Oct. 5.
It is because in one of the rarest instances in all of basketball, he is now a two-time Rookie of the Year awardee.
“Medyo hindi kapani-paniwala dahil back-to-back Rookie of the Year–parang kalokohan, ‘di ba,“ said Abarrientos, drawing laughter from the members of the press.
But on a more serious note, however, Abarrientos said that winning the top rookie honors was only a bonus as more than anything else, he wants to win a championship in the PBA.
He came close twice last year after making the Finals of both the Governors' Cup and Commissioner's Cup only to lose to eventual champions TNT Tropang Giga.
“Siguro bonus lang sa akin na makakuha ng individual award kasi lahat naman pinapangarao iyon pero for me the bigger picture, mas pinapangarap ko na makakuha ng championship with Ginebra,“ said the 26-year-old playmaker who also won the award while playing the Korean Basketball League.
Abarrientos, however, admitted that winning the award will certainly become a fuel to achieve more in his career.
“Motivation kasi nakakuha na naman ako ng rookie of the year after ko makakakuha sa Korea and ngayon sa PBA,“ said Abarrientos.
“Pressure din kasi nakakuha ka ng award sa PBA so expect na mas maraming expectation yung mga coaches and mga teammate,“ he added.
Abarrientos averaged 12.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists through 71 games in his rookie year. The No. 3 overall pick of the draft bested Sedrick Barefield, Caelan Tiongson and Kai Ballungay for the award.
He is the first King to win such an award since 2014 or when Greg Slaughter won it.
“Lahat naman deserving sa mga kasama ko sa mga nominee syempre blessed ako,“ he added.
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