Rhenz Abando to play for Anyang KGC in Korean Basketball League

Gilas Pilipinas’ Rhenz Abando. –FIBA BASKETBALL

MANILA, Philippines — Rhenz Abando has signed with team Anyang KGC in the 2022-23 Korean Basketball League. 

Anyang on Thursday announced its signing of the NCAA rookie MVP from Letran.

Abando ended up as a one-and-done for the Knights after delivering the school’s second straight championship with a 12-game sweep of the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball tournament last May

The 24-year-old swingman averaged 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 blocks in his first NCAA season.

Abando played for University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP in 2019 but transferred to Letran in 2020 after the infamous Sorsogon bubble of the Growling Tigers.

The 6-foot-2 small forward was called up by Gilas Pilipinas, seeing action in the third window of the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers and Fiba Asia Cup. He also played two friendly games against South Korea.

Anyang KGC is coming off back-to-back finals appearances after ruling the 2020-21 season before settling for a runner-up finish in the previous season’s finals.

Abando didn’t join Letran in its past games in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup and the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.

Six Filipino players are set to play in Korea this season with Abando joining SJ Belangel of Daegu Kogas, RJ Abarrientos of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, Justin Gutang of Changwon LG, Ethan Alvano of Wonju DB, and William Navarro of Seoul Samsung.

Interestingly, Anyang is grouped with the PBA Philippine Cup champion in Pool A in the East Asia League.