PBA: Tim Cone has similar concern with ‘Steph Curry-like’ RJ Abarrientos and uncle Johnny A

Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone seemed to have a feeling of déjà vu while coaching RJ Abarrientos in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Before RJ caught fire in the second half of Ginebra’s 105–85 win over Converge in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Cone revealed that he had a brief word with the young guard about one aspect of his game.

“You know, he can get going almost Steph Curry-like, where he can just find an area that’s open on the floor, throw it up there, and it’s going to go in,” Cone said during the postgame press conference.

“I actually complained to him a little bit in the middle of the second quarter. I told him he wasn’t looking for his shot enough, he was passing the ball. I said he needed to look for his shot more. So he came out in the second half, looked for it, and it went in.”

Cone added that the same concern was something he often encountered while coaching RJ’s uncle, Johnny Abarrientos, during their Alaska days.

“I had the same problem with him oftentimes that I do with his uncle, Johnny, in the past,” Cone said. “They want to be point guards. They want to be pure point guards.”

“And both of them are really capable scorers, and they kind of forget that part of the game sometimes. They need to be reminded to take a few shots.”

“But his DNA is to be a point guard and set people up,” Cone added. “He’s got a lot more ability than just your normal point guard.”

RJ said he simply responded to Cone’s challenge which fueled his career-high 35-point performance.

“First of all, I'm just playing the game and then just reading the game, kung anong binibigay sa akin ng defense,” RJ said. 

"And I remember the first half earlier, Coach Tim went to me. He said, like, I'm not looking for my shot and I'm not aggressive. So 'yun siguro tinatak ko sa utak ko and then I keep reminding myself na hindi puwedeng hindi ako gumalaw o makapag-contribute sa team kasi kami-kami rin ang inaasahan dito. So I'm very happy and thankful sa mga coaches just to keep reminding kami para maglaro nang maayos."

(First of all, I'm just playing the game and then just reading the game, whatever the defense gives me... And I remember the first half earlier, Coach Tim went to me. He said, like, I'm not looking for my shot and I'm not aggressive. So that was stuck in my head and then I keep reminding myself that I can't not contribute to the team because we're relying on each other here. So I'm very happy and thenkful to the coaches just to keep reminding us to play the right way.)

Barangay Ginebra and Converge will meet again on Sunday in a do-or-die game to determine which team advances to the semifinals.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News