Filipino high-flyer Rhenz Abando won’t be seeing action for a long period of time in the Korean Basketball League.
Abando, who plays as an import for Anyang Jung Kwan Jang, sustained numerous injuries during the Red Boosters’ game against the Goyang Sono Skygunners on Saturday in an ongoing tournament.
The 25-year-old Abando suffered fractures to his 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae, a sprained wrist, and a concussion following his team’s encounter against the Goyang Sono Skygunners.
The Red Boosters are the defending KBL champions.
Abando got hurt at the 4:24 mark in the second quarter, and that was when he went for a rebound and fell on his back onto the court.
Video replays showed that Goyang Sono import Chinanu Onuaku slightly shoved Abando from behind, while he was up in the air and this led to a collision.
Abando is set to undergo re-evaluation following a monthlong recovery period.
Team officials expressed their concern to Korean news outlets, saying that “Abando is a member of our team and also a member of the Philippine national team. It makes no sense for him to injure his spine just from competing for a rebound.”
Meanwhile, another Gilas player AJ Edu will be rested after the 6-foot-10 Fil-Nigerian, suffered a torn meniscus while playing for the Toyama Grouses in the Japan B. League.
Edu got injured on November 12 during the Grouses’ game against the Utsunomiya Brex.
Edu has already undergone surgery and will not be available for at least three months.
He averaged 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game when Edu played for Grouses.
Meanwhile, Kai Sotto, who remained benched by the Hiroshima Dragonflies, is set to transfer to the Yokohama B-Corsairs also in the Japan B.League.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto is still recovering from an injury, a herniated lumbar disc, which has already suffered while playing for Gilas during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
The 21-year-old Sotto is undergoing medical protocols before he can suit up for the B-Corsairs.