RHENZ Abando doesn’t want another bridesmaid finish in his collegiate career.
The 24-year-old high-flyer is looking to complete an unfinished job with another school in another league three years ago as he helped reigning champion Letran reach the NCAA men’s basketball finals anew with a 77-75 escape act against a tough Perpetual Help Altas side on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Arena.
See Letran squeaks past Perpetual to reach finals unbeaten
Abando finished with a game-high 24 points behind a 56 percent shooting from the field, tying his career-best in the league which he registered also against the Altas during the eliminations.
Now he gets another shot at winning a championship after coming off short with University of Sto. Tomas in the 2019 UAAP final against Ateneo.
“Para sa akin ngayon, ayoko nang maging bridesmaid ulit, ayoko nang maging runner up,” said Abando. “Nandito na yung chance, kahit sino ang makalaban namin, may tiwala ako sa mga teammates ko na makukuha namin ito.”
Abando played for one season with Santo Tomas and made the finals right in his rookie year, but the Tigers were swept by the Blue Eagles in the finals to complete a 16-game romp.
He later left the Espana-based school in the light of the infamous Sorsogon bubble issue that took place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, and later on, took his act to Letran.
Rhenz Abando and the Knights reach the finals undefeated.
The Knights have been on a roll in Season 97, stretching their unbeaten streak to 10 games, including the semifinal win over the Altas.
Abando said the unblemished record is not a concern of Letran right now since the ultimate goal really is to defend and bring the title back to Muralla.
“Hindi naman namin iniisip ngayon yun. One game at a time lang,” said the Letran star center. “Alam namin hindi madali, alam namin mahirap yung pagdadaanan namin ngayon, kaya paghahandaan namin ito.”
He still has a year left of playing eligibility with the Knights that he shunned applying for the coming PBA rookie draft.
“Wala pa sa isip ko kasi may isang taon pa ako,” Abando said. “Tatapusin ko lalo kung mag-champion kami.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
