PBA: RJ Abarrientos condemns death threats after Ginebra loss

Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos during Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Meralco. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos had his struggles in the Gin Kings’ Game 2 loss at the hands of Meralco in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

Little did he know that he’d have more of those hardships outside the playing court after the game.

Almost immediately after Ginebra’s 108-104 loss to the Bolts at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on  Friday, Abarrientos condemned some online Instagram accounts that sent death threats his way.

READ: PBA: RJ Abarrientos no regrets over missed equalizer in Ginebra loss

“Grabe talaga mga tao sa social media. Talo lang sa pusta, biglang may death threats gamit dummy accounts. Pati pamilya, dinadamay pa,” wrote the Far Eastern University product.

(People in social media are too much. Just because they lost a bet, they’ll suddenly send out death threats using dummy accounts. Even my family’s involved.)

RJ Abarrientos’ Instagram Story on death threats.

“Naglalaro kami ng maayos at trabaho namin ‘to. Parte ng basketball ang matalo. Sa mga kapwa kong players, ‘di dapat tinotolerate ‘yong ganito.”

(We’re playing properly and this is our job. Losing is part of basketball. To all my fellow players, we shouldn’t be tolerating this.)

Abarrientos became the brunt of criticisms after Ginebra’s loss where he missed a potential equalizer in regulation. The Gin Kings were training, 108-104, in the dying seconds of the game when he launched a four-pointer that missed the mark.

READ: PBA reaches out to NBI after RJ Abarrientos death threats

The prized rookie, who formerly played in Korea and Japan, still contributed with 12 points and three assists despite the bungled final attempt.

Certain Instagram users that went by the usernames “itsme.again.27” and “jocel_pactoin69″–visibly fake accounts–started leaving threating comments on Abarrientos’ posts right after the game.

Their comments involved waiting for Abarrientos outside of the stadium, cursing out his partner and even blaming the player for losing a bet that allegedly involved 400,000 pesos.

The identities of the fake accounts have yet to be discovered.