GOING, going, gone.
Reigning NCAA MVP Rhenz Abando of Letran has opted to forgo his final playing year and instead sign up with Anyang KGC in the Korean Basketball League, the team announced on its social media account yesterday.
The high-flying 6-foot-2 wingman is coming off a stellar stint in the country’s oldest collegiate league where he averaged 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 blocks, leading the Knights to the Promised Land while winning the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards.
Abando, 24, also saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Gilas played tune-up games against South Korea that might have caught Anyang KGC’s fancy.
The Korean pro team wound up third in the eliminations of the last KBL season with a 31-21 card and reached the finals before losing to the Seoul SK Knights.
The likes of former collegiate standouts William Navarro, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, Justin Gutang, and Fil-Am Ethan Albano of Alab Pilipinas are also set to bring their acts to the KBL.
While Abando’s move will be a big blow to Letran’s drive for a three-peat, Knights coach Bonnie Tan is supporting his prized ward’s decision.
“Ang sa atin naman, iniisip natin iyong kinabukasan ng mga bata kasi student-athletes pa rin sila,” Tan said.
“Sana lang makakuha siya ng mahabang kontrata sa Korea. Dapat niyang galingan doon,” he added.
For Tan, the welfare of players should remain top priority.
“Iyong players naman, hindi natin masisisi iyan kasi may pangarap din sila lalo na maraming liga ang nakakakilala na sa galing ng Filipino players,” he said.
“Pero ang iniisip natin iyong future ng mga bata, so sana kausapin din nila iyong schools lalo na hindi pa sila nakakatapos.”
