Happy Birthday, Johnny Abarrientos ( July 17 )

Happy Birthday, Johnny Abarrientos

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

“The Flying A”
1993 PBA Rookie Draft 3rd overall pick
1996 PBA Most Valuable Player
12x PBA champion
2x PBA Finals MVP
6x PBA Mythical Tram member
5x PBA All-Defensive Team member
1996 Grandslam champion
2x UAAP champion
1991 UAAP Most Valuable Player
4x PBL champion
Far Eastern Tamaraws point guard 
Member of the PBA 25 Greatest players list

When Abarrientos reached high school though, he prioritized basketball over dancing, to the point that his parents almost plucked him out of the FEU high school squad for fear that he will take his studies for granted. He remained with FEU until college where he joined forces with, among others, Formula Shell's Victor Pablo whom he considers as his closest friend in the PBA. "After winning the MVP trophy last year, ang natitira na lang sigurong kulang sa career ko, since naka-grand slam rin naman kami, is to play with Vic in one team. Ang saya-saya ko na siguro 'pag nangyari 'yon," Abarrientos said wishfully. Abarrientos has been in the pro league for only five seasons but his impact is so huge one would think he has been at it for more than a decade already. As his coach at Alaska Milk would put it, Abarrientos is an unbelievable talent. "I've never seen anybody like him before," Tim Cone once said. In fact, Cone added, even if they were awarded the first pick in 1993, he would not go for Jun Limpot like what Sta. Lucia Realty did. "I'd go for Johnny anytime," Cone declared. It is precisely because of Abarrientos' speed, good shooting, inside penetrations and playmaking abilities that at least two NBA teams have asked about him. The idea of playing alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley is too daunting for the 1996 MVP. "Nakakabigla rin 'pag nagkatotoo. Pero sino ba naman ang may ayaw sa NBA? Sana nga. Bahala na," Abarrientos said. Abarrientos was also a big hit during the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games where he was a belated addition to the RP team made up of professionals and some amateurs. We didn't win the gold but the other countries stood up and took notice of him. Abarrientos, who does guest stints in television sitcoms and drama anthologies and is scheduled to appear on the big screen this year, averaged 16 points per game in 1993, his rookie year, when Alaska was losing. The following year, the Milkmen made a big turnaround, winning 45 of their 73 games, and bagging the Governor's Cup after placing second in the previous conference, the Commissioner's Cup. Abarrientos then made it to the Mythical Five. He held on to the point guard slot until last year. Not bad for somebody who used to dream of becoming a doctor and a professional dancer.