Colegio de San Juan de Letran head coach Bonnie Tan had mixed emotions after Anyang KGC announced on Thursday afternoon that it had signed Rhenz Abando to a two-year deal.
After all, it’s the biggest break the 24-year-old winger out of La Union received so far.
“We cannot blame the player dahil may dreams and ambitions mga yan,” Tan told Tiebreaker Times.
On the other hand, Tan also could not help but be disappointed with how the transaction went, questioning the timing of it all.
It was only after the Knights’ game against Jose Rizal University on Wednesday evening when Tan was notified that officials from the Korean Ginseng Corporation were in the country, looking to close in on a deal with Abando.
Less than 24 hours later, Anyang announced the acquisition even if it had not coordinated with the Colegio prior. And it happened during Wangs @ 26-Letran’s game against Centro Escolar University in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.
(C) PBA Images
How KGC went about this signing was different from how Samsung Seoul went through the process back in May when it was negotiating with Abando. The Thunders were always aligned with Tan and the team’s management during their stay here.
“Siyempre yung Korean team dapat may courtesy din. Kasi yung school mismo, hindi man lang tinawagan,” rued the two-time NCAA champion coach.
“But again, it’s a better opportunity for the players and I’m happy for Rhenz. I’m hoping na nakuha niya yung kontrata na gusto niya and sana mas mag-grow pa siya dun,” he expressed.
But now that Abando is gone, Tan is challenging the remaining Knights to step up and fill the giant shoes left by the reigning MVP.
“Challenge na ito kayla Fran [Yu], Brent [Paraiso], [Kurt] Reyson, Kobe [Monje], and the rest of the team to step up para makuha namin yung three-peat,” said Tan.
“Kailangan sama-sama kami rito para makuha natin yung goal na yun.”
