For a moment, it felt as if the TNT Tropang 5G were on the verge of a dream comeback. 

The Tropang 5G erased the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ 18-point lead and were inching closer to a 1-0 lead in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. All they needed was a few more defensive stops and the win was theirs for the taking. 

But RJ Abarrientos flipped that dream of theirs into a nightmare. 

Abarrientos knocked down two clutch 4-pointers that snuffed out any momentum TNT had in the last few minutes of Game 1. Justin Brownlee had the final say in the Gin Kings’ thrilling victory, but that would not have been possible if not for Abarrientos’ hot shooting from behind the 3-point and 4-point lines. 

Shooting wasn’t Abarrientos’ only contribution in Game 1, as his seven assists got the rest of his teammates going and may very well have led to the crisp ball movement that resulted in 30 assists (on only 10 turnovers). 

Prior to the finals, Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes already marked Abarrientos as someone to watch out for, partly due to how his game has matured in just two seasons with Ginebra. He’s had his highs and lows in that short span of time, but the trust the Gin Kings have in him and the ability to bounce back have led the former FEU Tamaraw to this moment. 

In fact, the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs have been Abarrientos’ breakout campaign. The consecutive 30-point performances to bring Ginebra to the finals. The good decisions he makes even when plays break down. The shotmaking not just under high-pressure defense, but also high stakes that would make even some veterans rattled. The transition to being the Gin Kings’ lead guard is on the verge of being complete, even if Scottie Thompson remains a valuable contributor. 

Game 2 and beyond could bring greater tests to Abarrientos, who is now the marked man on offense. Yes, limiting Brownlee remains part of TNT’s plans, but putting a blanket on Abarrientos is what they would need to reduce any chances of a Ginebra explosion. After all, even outrebounding the Gin Kings proved useless for the Tropang 5G, who could not capitalize on second chances and fastbreaks. 

Basketball is first and foremost a team sport, but there are moments such as those in Game 1 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where we are reminded that a player of RJ Abarrientos’ caliber can take over and change the complexion of the contest. He didn’t close out the contest, but Abarrientos swung the momentum just enough for his teammates to put the finishing touches. That’s grown-man basketball at its finest; knowing making the right plays may not be the last play, but the best one that brings the team a victory.