RJ Abarrientos has come to terms with Ginebra.
The third overall pick of the PBA Season 49 Draft has signed a three-year deal with the Kings, his agent Edgar Mangahas announced on social media Monday.
No less than team governor and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua welcomed the star guard in the signing held at the SMC office in Pasig.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Both camps put pen to paper a week after Abarrientos helped Strong Group clinch the 43rd William Jones Cup title in Taiwan via an eight-game sweep.
The signing, furthermore, took place ahead of the Barangay’s exhibition match against P.League+ champions New Taipei in Macau on Wednesday.
Abarrientos, 24, is all set to take his act to the PBA after spending the last two years in the KBL and B.League under the Asian player quota program.
Expectations are high on the former Far Eastern University star, especially after being picked that high by Coach Tim Cone during the July 14 proceedings.
It was a surprise for some after believing that Ginebra was out to get a big man when it swapped first-round picks with Terrafirma a day before the Draft.
Now, he’s seen to help usher in a new era of sorts for the Barangay after it sent Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to the Dyip in that same deal.
Abarrientos injects much-needed youth to a Kings backcourt that features 2022 MVP Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Stephen Holt, and Nards Pinto.