LAPU-LAPU CITY – Rhenz Abando's future is on hold as he enters free agency when the Korean Basketball League (KBL) ends and admitted a return to the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang team depends on what the franchise would put on the table.
At the same time, he didn’t discount the possibility of entertaining offers from other teams and other leagues.
Abando is free agent
“FA (Free agent) na ako after this (KBL season), I don’t know what’s the plan,” said the 25-year-old Abando Sunday after the Red Boosters copped third place in the East Asia Super League (EASL) Final Four following a 78-76 thriller at the packed Hoops Dome.
“Sila pa rin naman yung may rights sa akin, so malaki na rin yung possibility (to renew).”
Abando is in his second season with Anyang, a franchise he helped win the KBL championship last season to add to the EASL Champions Week title it also bagged March of last year.
While the Filipino import said he’s OK to return for a third season with the Korean ballclub, he is not discounting the possibility of playing on another team in perhaps another place.
Abando nurses back injury
The former Gilas stalwart did not suit up for the Red Boosters in the third place game as a precaution when his back injury recurred after playing in Friday’s Final Four against KBL rival team Seoul SK Knights.
Still, he’s expected to get his share of the $250,000 prize money (roughly P13 million) Anyang won for placing third in the five month-long tournament.
“After nung game, sinabihan ko na rin sila na hirap yung katawan ko kasi yung back ko ulit sumakit. So sinabi ko na agad sa kanila na hindi ko na kayang maglaro even though i-line up ninyo pa ako,” said Abando.
The former NCAA Rookie-MVP of Letran is coming off multiple back injuries following a bad fall last December in a KBL game against Goyang Sono.
In his comeback game with Anyang last week, Abando hurt his back anew, but decided to play in the EASL Final Four in order to return the favor to Filipino fans who trooped to the venue to watch him play.
“Actually, masakit na talaga (back) nung game pa lang kaso tinitiis ko lang kasi gusto ko lang din pagbigyan yung mga fans na nanood,” he said.
The Red Boosters left for Korea Monday midnight and will resume their campaign in the KBL. The team is no longer in the running for a playoffs berth and is going to miss defending their title.
Abadndo said Anyang still has at least 10 games to play before calling it a season.
He couldn’t say for certain if he’ll be able to play in all games or his if his minutes will be managed by Anyang.
“Recover muna ako and then tsaka na namin pag-uusapan yan (if he’s going to play),” said Abando. “Kung andun ako, ok lang din naman kung i-manage ang time ko kasi kailangan ko ring tulungan yung mga locals kasi pagod na pagod na rin ang mga yun and kailangan din silang pag-pahingahin.”
After the season, Abando will return to the country to have his well-deserved vacation.
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