MANILA – Rookie guard Rhon Jhay Abarrientos is now officially a Kabarangay after signing his three-year rookie deal with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings on Monday morning.
Abarrientos, the No. 3 overall pick in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft recently, officially signed the dotted line in the presence of San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua and player agent Edgar Mangahas.
“‘Yung pagkakumpiyansa niya, siya pa lang nakita kong ganun,” Chua said. “‘Yung kumpiyansa, ‘yung vision niya kung ano mangyayari sa team, parang si (Ginebra guard) LA (Tenorio).”
“Ang gusto ko lang sa batang ‘yun nung kausap ko, grabe kumpiyansa ng bata, the way he talks. Sabi ko lang sa kanya, ‘Kung ano sinasabi mo bata, kailangan gawin mo sa laro ‘yan,’” he added.
Prior to moving to the PBA, the 5-foot-11 Abarrientos played for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in the Korean Basketball League and Shinshu Brave Warriors in the Japan B.League.
Recently, the former Far Eastern University Tamaraws guard was part of Strong Group Athletics-Pilipinas team that ruled the 43rd William Jones Cup in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Meanwhile, rookie forward Jonnel Policarpio has also came to terms with NLEX Road Warriors after signing a three-year rookie contract on Monday afternoon.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa NLEX, kasi kahit ako hindi ko inexpect na kukunin nila ako kaagad nung draft. Tapos ngayon, three years pa binigay nila sa akin,” Policarpio said in a statement.
“Talagang susuklian ko ‘yung tiwala na binigay nila sa akin,” added the 6-foot-5 cager. “Masaya ako na makasama ko ang NLEX at maglaro sa PBA. Sisikapin kong ibigay ang lahat para sa NLEX.”
Policarpio, formerly of De La Salle University Green Archers, was selected 6th overall by the Road Warriors in the recent PBA draft./PN
