PBA: Red-hot RJ Abarrientos named Best Player of the Conference

RJ Abarrientos’ surge in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup did not go unnoticed as the red-hot Barangay Ginebra guard was named Best Player of the Conference on Wednesday.

Abarrientos eclipsed several big names to take home the top individual award, besting the likes of NLEX veteran Robert Bolick and 13-time BPC June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel.

The reigning Rookie of the Year also became the first Ginebra player to take home the BPC plum since Christian Standhardinger captured the recognition during the 2022-2023 Governors’ Cup. Before that, Abarrientos’ current teammate Scottie Thompson also got the honors in the 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup.

This edition, Abarrientos proved it’s his time.

The former FEU guard has seen a huge rise in his game this conference.

In their semifinals series against Rain or Shine, the 26-year-old backcourt weapon dropped back-to-back 30-point games to help the Gin Kings close out the Elasto Painters and punch a finals ticket.

In their ongoing best-of-seven finale series opposite defending champion TNT, Abarrientos has also been stellar as Ginebra currently holds a 2-1 lead.

Abarrientos garnered a total of 1,147 points built on 462 statistical points, 592 media votes, and 93 player votes to seize his first-ever BPC recognition while Bolick and Fajardo had 804 and 573 total points, respectively. Rivero finished with 431 while Ahanisi tallied 421.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News