LAPU-LAPU CITY — Rhenz Abando has yet to plan his next move as he wants to focus on recovering from a back injury first and foremost.
The 25-year-old winger will hit free agency after his contract with Anyang JKJ expires after the ongoing Korean Basketball League (KBL) season this June.
“I don’t know what’s the plan,” he told reporters shortly after the Red Boosters’ 78-76 escape from New Taipei to finish third in the 2023-24 East Asia Super League (EASL) season, Sunday at the Hoops Dome here.
“Bakasyon muna.”
Abando joined Anyang – then backed by KGC – back in July 2022 after spending a season with Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA.
There, he helped the team win a championship.
It happened shortly after an impressive showing with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2022 Kookmin Bank Invitationals.
He had averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 assists in the two-game series versus Korea.
Since then, the La Union native has won a KBL championship and an EASL Champions Week crown as well.
Then he helped his ball club go as far as the Final Four of the upstart pan-regional competition.
But soon, he may be exploring other options when he becomes a free agent, although he isn’t ruling out the possibility of staying with Anyang JKJ.
“Depende kung saan may better option,” said the former Gilas stalwart.
“Sila pa rin naman ‘yung may rights sa akin, so malaki pa rin ‘yung possibility.”
For now, though, the focus is on going back to max health as Abando continues to be hounded by a back injury, which he hurt again after seeing action in the EASL semis opener against Seoul SK last Friday. They lost, 94-79.
(C) EASL
“Actually masakit na talaga nung game pa lang,” he said.”Tinitiis ko lang kasi kulang din talaga kami. Gusto ko lang din pagbigyan ‘yung fans na nanood.”
The NCAA Season 97 Rookie-MVP no longer played in the third-place game against the Kings, where they bagged USD 250,000 following the win.
“Parang hindi rin ready ‘yung katawan ko nung first game. After nung first game, sinabihan ko na sila na hirap yung katawan ko. Kasi after ng game na-trigger ‘yung back [injury] ko ulit, sumakit,” he disclosed.
“Sinabi ko rin agad sa kanila kasi hindi ko na kaya maglaro kahit i-line up niyo ‘ko. Parang nagwo-worsen habang naglalaro ako,” he added.
Abando and the Red Boosters will fly back to Korea at midnight and the grind will continue for the squad as they resume their KBL duties.
Already out of playoff contention, Anyang JKJ still has six games left in its regular season schedule.
Abando has his fingers crossed that he can recover as soon as possible to be able to play their remaining assignments.
“First of all magre-recover muna ako. And then saka na namin pag-uusapan ‘yan,” he said when asked if he’s play restricted minutes.
“OK lang din kung hindi nila i-manage ‘yung time ko, kasi kailangan ko rin tulungan ‘yung mga locals. Kasi pagod na pagod na ‘yung mga ‘yun, kailangan ko rin sila pagpahingahin,” Abando continued.
“‘Pag andun ako, OK lang kahit bigyan ako ng mahabang minuto para matulungan ko rin sila makapag-recover.“
