Along with his Jones Cup stint with Strong Group Athletics, Rhenz Abando gets another shot to be part of Gilas Pilipinas.
Rhenz Abando may be committed to Strong Group Athletics for the 2025 William Jones Cup, but accepting the call to be part of Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA Asia Cup pool was a no-brainer.
The high-flying forward was one of four new players added to Gilas’ “long list” for the Asia Cup this August along with PBA mainstays RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, and Zavier Lucero. On top of the chance to carry the flag again, Abando noted how the schedule is actually favorable given his current commitments with SGA.
“Ba’t pa ba pagdedeisyunan ‘yun? Gilas na ‘yun eh!” Abando told the media during Strong Group’s open practice on Wednesday, July 9. “Tsaka hindi naman nasasagasaan [‘yung SGA] and open naman [ang Gilas] and alam nila na nandito pa rin ako.”
“Kinausap naman ako ni [Gilas assistant coach] Richard [Del Rosario], and sabi niya naman, tinanong niya rin kung kailan balik namin [from Jones Cup]. Sabi niya, tatawagan daw nila ako pag need na nila ako sa practice.”
Should things fall into place, then Abando is expected to make his first national team appearance since the FIBA World Cup held in Manila two years ago.
“Sobrang happy ako kasi naging part ulit ako ng Gilas pool, and sana, pag na-line up ako, gagawin ko lahat,” Abando said.
For now, Abando is on board Strong Group’s title repeat quest in the 2025 Jones Cup this July, which serves as his third go-around with the team following the Dubai Basketball Championship in January, and last year’s Jones Cup staging.
Abando is set to be reunited with the likes of Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, and Kiefer Ravena for the Jones Cup that establishes a form of familiarity heading into this year’s tilt.
“Okay naman siya (their chemistry) kasi ‘yung iba naman doon, kilala na namin. Ang bago lang ata ngayon is si (Andre) Roberson na nag-Dubai siya dati pero ‘yung batch niya is nagpalit na…Okay naman so far, and actually first time lang namin na-kumpleto [during Wednesday’s practice],” Abando said.
First up for Rhenz Abando and Strong Group in the Jones Cup will be Chinese Taipei, who are also part of Pool D with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup. But he isn’t worried about being scouted by Chinese Taipei as part of their own Asia Cup preparations.
“Hindi, hindi ‘yan! Wala naman silang pakialam sa akin,” Abando said with a slight chuckle. “Kaya ‘yun. Hindi magiging madali, pero feeling ko kaya naman namin, kasi nakalaro naman na namin sila last time, so paano pa kaya pag Gilas team?”
Where to next?
After the Jones Cup and a possible Gilas call-up, the question now is to where Rhenz Abando will be continuing his professional career.
Abando last played with the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), before parting ways with the team last year following a productive two-year stay.
Asked about the matter, Abando shared that foreign teams have sent feelers, but nothing remains certain as of writing. The PBA Season 50 Draft, he said, is also an option should no overseas offers materialize soon enough.
“So far wala pa, so sana after ng Jones Cup meron na. May mga nakakausap na foreign teams pero hindi pa naman ganon ka-committed na nagbibigay ng [offer].”
“Syempre for me pag wala na talagang option, that’s the time na mag-uusap na kami ng agent ko na kung ano ‘yung possible na mangyari sa akin…and open din kami pag-usapan ng agent ko kung anong plano pag wala talaga sa overseas.”
Banner image from FIBA.