Rhenz Abando misses Anyang’s third-place win in EASL

FILE–Anyang’s Rhenz Abando.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

LAPU-LAPU CITY—Rhenz Abando opted to skip Anyang Jung Kwan Jang’s narrow 78-76 win over the New Taipei Kings that gave his Korean Basketball League club a third-place finish in the East Asia Super League on Sunday at Hoops Dome here.

Abando watched from the back of the bench as the Red Boosters weathered a late attempt by the Kings to force overtime and seal a podium finish in the league’s first season holding a home-and-away format and go back to Anyang with a purse of $250,000.

The Letran product sat out after playing the past two games in all competitions since returning from a scary fall in December. Abando played in Friday’s Final Four when Anyang suffered a 94-79 loss to the Seoul SK Knights.

READ: Latest PH homecoming bittersweet for Rhenz Abando

Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Filipino import Rhenz Abando in an EASL Final Four match. –EASL PHOTO

“I told the team after our semifinal game that my body was really hurting,” Abando said in Filipino. “I was actually playing through pain [during the semis] because we were shorthanded and I also want to give the fans the opportunity to see me play.”

Jihoon Park scored 29 points with eight rebounds and three assists while import Bob Carter had 18 points and 15 rebounds for New Taipei.

Ex-Converge import Jamil Wilson added 11 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for the Red Boosters.

New Taipei placed fourth in its debut EASL campaign but went to this city minus former NBA player Jeremy Lin, who was dealing with a foot injury.

Kings import Kenny Manigault produced 18 points and 10 rebounds while Chin-Min Yang scored 15 points, but lost the ball while driving to the paint for a potential tying score in the final seconds.