MANILA, Philippines – RJ Abarrientos’ offensive explosion is the one element that Barangay Ginebra is lacking in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals matchup with TNT.

Despite the Kings’ grueling 71-70 victory in Game 2 to knot the best-of-seven series at 1-1, the rookie guard has yet to establish himself and advance the team’s case.

In Sunday’s game, which Ginebra won by a slim margin, the third overall choice in the previous draft was held to just one point on 0-of-7 field goal shooting.

If the former Far Eastern University mainstay can finally find his rhythm, the Kings could perform well in Game 3 on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena. Coach Tim Cone believes the squad has been missing Abarrientos’ scoring.

As Ginebra gets ready for Game Three, head coach Tim Cone stressed the significance of reviving RJ Abarrientos’ offensive game. He admitted that Abarrientos still has to establish his rhythm and that maximizing his potential would be a key component of their future plan.

Cone emphasized that by including Abarrientos in the attack, Ginebra would have more scoring possibilities and their main playmakers would not be under as much pressure. He understood that the rookie guard has the potential to contribute significantly as a scorer and a facilitator and that his enhanced play might decide the outcome of the series.

Cone is aware that every change they make could swing the odds in their favor because the finals are extremely competitive. He was certain that Ginebra would have a greater chance of winning Game Three after a fierce battle if Abarrientos could overcome his difficulties and find his shooting form again.

Ginebra is concentrating on honing its offensive play while preserving its defensive vigor as the series is still hotly contested. Cone thinks that adjusting Abarrientos’ position in the system would provide them with the advantage they need to win again and accelerate in the best-of-seven matchup.

In the series opener, in which Ginebra lost 95-89, Abarrientos finished with 13 points. However, he struggled with his shooting, going 3-of-10 from the field and finishing -5 in the plus-minus stats.

In the subsequent game, where he finished with a -9 plus-minus, he was even worse.

In fact, Abarrientos made one ill-advised three-pointer in the last 1:20 with Ginebra only 69-70 down, which infuriated Cone, who promptly substituted Jamie Malonzo for the guard.

In his reflection on a pivotal occasion in the previous game, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone pointed out that RJ Abarrientos had missed a better opportunity and made a poor shot. Cone thought that rather than settling for a lower-percentage shot, the rookie guard could have made a stronger drive to the basket. He maintained his optimism, pointing out that these kinds of encounters are important teaching opportunities that will aid Abarrientos’ development as a player.

Cone recognized Abarrientos’ excellent IQ and talent set and appreciated his profound knowledge of basketball. He did note, though, that although Abarrientos is an experienced player in terms of general game knowledge, he is still getting used to Ginebra’s structure and play style. According to him, the guard is a “veteran in terms of knowing the game,” but a “rookie” in terms of completely understanding the tactics and execution of the squad.

Despite the difficulties of adjusting to a new system, Cone said he had faith in Abarrientos’ capacity to get better. He thinks the rookie guard will improve his decision-making and contribute more effectively as he gains more experience under Ginebra’s system. He anticipates that Abarrientos will improve his performance and make wiser decisions as the series goes on.

Cone, however, noted that he had so much faith in Abarrientos that he chose to use the rookie guard during the last minutes of the fiercely contested game.

Tim Cone, the head coach of Ginebra, said he had enough faith in RJ Abarrientos to play at the game’s pivotal moments. He made it clear that he trusted the rookie guard to make important choices when things got tight. Cone acknowledged that Abarrientos had erred in that particular case, but he maintained his optimism. He thought the encounter would teach him a good lesson and help the guard develop further in the series.