Johnny Abarrientos

Early life

Abarrientos was the seventh of nine children and one of five boys. He watched his older brothers, all point guards, play basketball in small commercial leagues as their water boy. He led his high school, NCBA, to a league championship.

He then tried out for the FEU Baby Tamaraws and led them to a UAAP juniors title in 1987, their first in 12 years. He considered transferring to Ateneo but decided against it as too risky. He almost quit schooling due to financial difficulties until FEU gave him a scholarship, though his father did not want him to play basketball.

Amateur career

Abarrientos played college basketball for the FEU Tamaraws, initially hiding his participation from his father. He eventually confessed and his family watched him in the finals; though FEU lost the Season 52 finals to DLSU, he won Rookie of the Year. A lowered age requirement allowed him to enter the PBA. He also played in the Philippine Basketball League for Crispa Redmanizers and Triple-V, becoming the first PBL player to record a triple-double (17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists). His #14 jersey was retired by FEU on July 6, 2011.

Professional career

Alaska selected Abarrientos third overall in the 1993 PBA Draft. Coach Tim Cone believed he would be the future at point guard, and Alaska dropped Frankie Lim to make room. From 1994 to 1998, Abarrientos led Alaska to nine PBA titles, including a grand slam in 1996. He was named MVP that season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals, becoming the first guard to win the award.

In 1997, Charlotte Hornets scout Joe Bettancourt offered him a contract for the Hornets' pre-season camp, but talks stalled after Bettancourt sold his shares. That year, Abarrientos averaged a career-high 16.7 points and a league-leading 8.6 assists, winning Best Player of the Conference in the Commissioner's Cup.

He was named to the PBA's 25 Greatest Players of All-Time on April 9, 2000. His career declined despite Alaska winning the All-Filipino Cup in 2000; he averaged 7.9 points in his last Alaska season. He and Poch Juinio were traded to Pop Cola for Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio.

Retirement and coaching career

After becoming an assistant coach for Barangay Ginebra, Abarrientos was invited to Alaska's 25th Anniversary Reunion, where the team retired his #14 jersey. In 2011, he joined the B-Meg Llamados as an assistant coach under Tim Cone, helping install the triangle offense. They won four titles together, including a grand slam. He stayed with the franchise when Cone left for Ginebra, winning one more title in 2018 under Chito Victolero.

During a March 2023 game, he gestured with a middle finger at Converge import Jamaal Franklin, drawing criticism for racism and a ₱10,000 fine. In 2025, after 14 years with the B-Meg/Purefoods/Magnolia franchise, he joined Ginebra's coaching staff under Cone, coaching his nephew RJ. Since 2011, he has also been an assistant coach at FEU.

Did You Know?

• Abarrientos bred fighting cocks as a side business while playing.
• His uncle, Virgilio 'Haba-Haba' Abarrientos, was also a PBA player.
• He was part of the RP Training Pool for the 2002 Busan Asian Games but was later cut.