When Rhenz Abando decided to leave University of Santo Tomas in late August of 2020, it was not long before its sister school Colegio de San Juan de Letran took the talented guard into its arms.
After all, the 6-foot-2 native of La Union was coming off a spectacular first-year campaign with the Growling Tigers, averaging 11.71 points, 5.29 rebounds, and 1.29 blocks during UAAP Season 82.
It was a celebrated move as well as history has proven, UAAP players who move to the NCAA usually dominate. And none of those players was the same caliber as Abando.
But his head coach Bonnie Tan assured Abando that he does not need to carry the scoring load for the loaded Knights.
“Nung kinausap ako ni Coach Bonnie, ‘Huwag kang mapressure mag-score. Basta gumawa ka lang ng tama’,” said the 23-year-old Abando after Letran’s 96-67 win over Arellano on Wednesday.
“Nawala yung pressure ko. Kailangan ko lang din talagang gumawa ng tama. Yung score, darating lang ‘yun sa ‘kin.”
The La Union-native dazzled for Letran in its debut win with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four blocks last Saturday against College of Saint Benilde.
He followed that up with a 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks against the Chiefs. During that game, Abando did not need to score much as Jeo Ambohot (20 points) and Tommy Olivario (15 points) delivered.
“So far, okay naman kasi parang feel at home kami agad eh, pagdating pa lang kasi mababait naman yung teammates namin, at syempre pati yung mga coaches namin,” he shared.
“Binibigyan kami ng kumpyansa at nakiki-bonding rin yung mga coaches at teammates namin.”
Grateful is Abando to Tan for helping ease his transition to Letran.
“Kung may kulang man kami sa bubble, siya na yung nagbibigay; siya na yung gumagawa ng paraan,” Abando shared.
“Thankful ako kasi grabe yung kumpiyansang binibigay sa kin kahit bago lang ako.”
