By Aimerose C. Atienza

RJ Abarrientos is one-and-done with Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws as he decided to forego his last four playing years in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tourney and turn professional as the second Filipino to commit to the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

Abarrientos is set to join Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus which is considered as one of the top teams of the league after clinching the most championship titles at seven despite finishing fourth in the previous KBL season.

During the recently concluded UAAP season 84, RJ came off as the top-scoring rookie for the Morayta-based squad and generated 13.8 points, 4.4 boards, 2.5 dimes and 1.3 steals on average.

The former FEU cager also led the team to their eighth straight Final Four appearance in the UAAP with a 7-7 win-loss record to cap off the season at fourth place.

Moreover, the 22-year-old gunner did not only suit up for the green-and-gold as he represented the country as an efficient guard for the Gilas Pilipinas since 2019.

In the 2022 KB Kookmin Bank Invitational, Abarrientos’ caught the attention of the overseas team after averaging 12.5 markers within two tune-up games between the Gilas Pilipinas and the Korean national team.

As reported by Tiebreaker Times, FEU athletics director Mark Molina expressed that the university has its full support on Abarrientos' decision to pursue a new career.

“We are happy for RJ. He worked hard to put himself in a position to be a professional. I wish him the best in the next phase of his career,” Molina said.

KBL started to allow recruitment of Pinoy cagers after the league expanded its Asian Player Quota to Filipinos for the 2022-2023 season.

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)