By Andrei M. Barrantes

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 49 draft third overall pick and former Tamaraw RJ Abarrientos officially signed a three-year rookie contract with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Though exact figures were not disclosed in the announcement made by his agent, the 24-year-old guard signed on the dotted line last Monday, July 29, at the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Offices in Pasig City.

Present during the contract signing was SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua who sang high praises of Abarrientos, likening him to Ginebra veteran L.A. Tenorio. 

The deal confirmation came after the star guard's stint with Strong Group-Pilipinas that won the championship for the country in the 43rd William Jones Cup last July 21 in Taiwan.

Abarrientos sees his first action for the 15-time PBA champions today, July 31, in a currently ongoing exhibition match in Macau against New Taipei, the reigning champions of the Taiwanese professional basketball league P. League+.

(Photo courtesy of Edgar Mangahas/Tiebreaker Times)