RJ Abarrientos to play in Korean Basketball League after one season with FEU

FILE – FEU Tamaraws guard RJ Abarrientos during the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — RJ Abarrientos’ UAAP career with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws only lasted for one season as he is set to sign with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

According to Korean news site, Jumpball, the Gilas Pilipinas guard will be Ulsan’s import under the Asian Players Quota.

Abarrientos is set to join national squad teammate SJ Belangel after signing a two-year deal with Daegu KOGAS Pegasus.

The 22-year-old played impressively during Gilas Pilipinas’ back-to-back friendly matches against Korea, falling short in both games.

Abarrientos delivered 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the three-point line in their second exhibition game against the Koreas, who won 106-102 on Saturday.

He is part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool that will compete in the third window of Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers against New Zealand on June 30 and India on July 3.

The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 13.8 points on 32 percent shooting from deep, to go with 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in his first year with Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.

Abarrientos was supposed to have at least three more playing years left with the Tamaraws, who placed fourth in the previous season with a 7-7 record.