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| Gilas Pilipinas guard Rhenz Abando. Photo: FIBA. |
Rhenz Abando has spoken out to clear any confusion surrounding his absence from Gilas Pilipinas during their preparations for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
The 27-year-old wingman, known for his explosive athleticism, was initially included in the national team pool alongside PBA standouts like Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, and Zavier Lucero. However, Abando was still fulfilling his commitment with Strong Group-Philippines in the 44th William Jones Cup when the Gilas camp began its training sessions.
STRENGTHENING THE GILAS CORE 🇵ðŸ‡
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) July 7, 2025
Gilas Pilipinas bolsters its pool with more firepower, adding Rhenz Abando, Zavier Lucero, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario to their pool as preparations begin for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia.#GilasPilipinas #FIBAAsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/2viJrevumt
“Coach Richard [del Rosario] was aware of my situation with Strong Group,” Abando shared in Filipino during an interview. “We had agreed that I would join Gilas practice once I got back from Taiwan.”
Abando helped Strong Group dominate the Jones Cup tournament, where they finished undefeated and clinched their second straight title. The team returned to Manila on July 22, giving Abando little time to catch up with Gilas.
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| Rhenz Abando (10). Photo: FIBA. |
Upon his return, he was informed that due to the limited preparation window and the complexity of Coach Tim Cone’s system, he would no longer be joining the ongoing Gilas camp.
“They called me and said there wasn’t enough time left for me to learn Coach Tim’s system,” he said. “But Coach Richard still reassured me that I’m part of the pool, so I’m still thankful.”
Despite missing this round of national duty, Abando has a new lease on his professional career. After over a year as a free agent, he recently re-signed with Anyang Jung Kwan Jang in the Korean Basketball League.
“I’m really thankful to Anyang and to Bridge Sports Global—especially Kiefer Ravena and Boss Miguel Alegre—for helping me return to Korea,” Abando said. “This is my second chance, and I’ll give it everything I’ve got to repay the trust they’ve placed in me.”
Looking ahead, Abando remains hopeful for future national team opportunities, particularly with the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers kicking off this November.
“The KBL respects the FIBA calendar,” he noted. “So if Gilas calls, I’ll always be ready to serve.”