HE may have gone elsewhere over the last four years, but Rhenz Abando's affinity with University of Santo Tomas never wanes.
On Monday, the 6-foot-2 high-flyer came to watch the Growling Tigers defeat Ateneo, 63-52, in a preseason game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
After close losses to La Salle and UP, the Tigers have won back-to-back games against NU and Ateneo in an encouraging turnaround for a rebuilding team.
READ Padrigao, UST keep Ateneo winless in Filoil Preseason
Abando takes notice of the resurgence.
"Ang dami nang bago, tingin ko 'yung Leland Estacio, and syempre, Forthsky Padrigao, yung mga magsstep up talaga," he told SPIN.ph.
He continued: " Sana makasungkit sila kasi 'yun 'yung di namin nagawa eh."
Looking back, Abando is glad to see evident progress in a team that hit rock bottom the last few years since a controversy in the middle of the pandemic.
"Nung kami, contender na kami di ba, tapos bumagsak, tapos ngayon, bumabangon na sila, I'm happy for UST," he said.
His jersey No. 10 is now worn by Nigerian import Peter Osang, but he doesn't mind.
"Wala naman sa akin na may bago nang nagsusuot, pinapanood ko lang talaga sila from afar," said the high-flyer from La Union.
Two weeks ago, Abando also took the time to support the Golden Tigresses in the UAAP season 86 women's volleyball finals series against NU.
"Nanonood ako kasi happy talaga ko marinig ulit chant ng UST, yun pa kasi ang kilala kong campus, and community kasi nga pandemic nung nasa Letran ako," he explained.
Don't get him wrong, Letran will always be an essential part of his career, having won an NCAA championship with the school.
'First love'
"Hindi pa rin mawawala Letran sa 'kin syempre pero kumbaga, first love ko kasi UST kaya hinahanap-hanap ko talaga. Pero, thankful din ako sa Letran kasi ang dami ko rin natutunan and na-accomplish because of them."
Abando, currently a free agent after his contract in the Korean Basketball League expired, is thrilled to see where this UST team goes once season begins.
"Positive lang ako na kaya nila, hindi sasali nang hindi handa, and tiwala ako sa mga bosses diyan, alam kong didiin yan," he added.
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