Cone: RJ Abarrientos a potential PBA icon

TIM Cone has no doubt that Barangay Ginebra rookie guard RJ Abarrientos has a chance to be in the mold of TNT's veteran star Jayson Castro, having displayed his potential in his first season in the PBA.

The American mentor, however, isn't in a rush to push the former Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year into superstardom.

"It's going, [like] it's on its way there. He has a chance to be a generational-type of player just like Jayson Castro I think," Cone said, during last Monday's PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals press conference.

The 25-year-old Abarrientos, in just his second conference in Asia's first play for a professional league, has adjusted well under Cone's system.

The cat-quick playmaker has, in fact, contributed his fair share for the Gin Kings as evidenced by his per-game averages of 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the mid-season conference.

With the third overall pick in the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft teaming up with one-time PBA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson at backcourt, Ginebra went on to reach the Finals for the second straight conference after beating top seed NorthPort, 4-1, in the semifinal series.

And while Cone feels blessed to be able to handle the second-generation Abarrientos, or after Johnny, RJ's uncle, the multi-titled PBA coach believes the Ginebra rookie still has a lot of room for growth.

"It's unfair to put that much burden on a player [like Abarrientos] at this time," shared Cone. "He has a lot of growth, and a lot of basketball left in his career."

The all-time PBA champion coach said basketball fans can expect a lot more from Abarrientos as the Ginebra freshman guard blossoms in the years to come.

"The great thing is we can watch him play for the next eight to 10 years ad see someone special," he added.

Abarrientos, nephew of the PBA legend Johnny, currently serving as one of Magnolia's assistant coaches, is expected to play a major role when Ginebra faces TNT in their Finals rematch starting this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.