Three-time champion Anyang-Korean Ginseng Corporation has signed up Gilas Pilipinas national men’s team standout Rhenz Abando, who is skipping his final year with Letran in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
KGC offcials, in an announcement on social media, revealed that Abando inked a two-year deal with them. He will soon see action in the Korean Basketball League, where KGC won three KBL titles during the 2011–12, 2016–17 and 2020–21 seasons.
Abando is the sixth Filipino player tapped to play for clubs in the KBL.
The other ballclubs, who have either signed up and are planning to sign Filipino cagers are Wonju DB, Seoul Samsung, Changwon LG, Daegu Korea Gas Corporation and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.
Other Filipino players, who have signed up with KBL club teams, include former Far Eastern University standout RJ Abarrientos, who is now with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis and Ateneo’s SJ Belangel, who was taken by new entry, Daegu KOGAS Pegasus for the next two seasons.
Abarrientos’ Ulsan Hyundai Mobis team was a finalist in the 2020-2021 season of the KBL.
Team officials said that Abando fits the profile of the player they were looking for, “a guard with explosive athleticism and shooting ability, capable of showing competitiveness in various positions.”
They noted that Abando, the reigning MVP of NCAA Season 97, “played a big role and showed his presence in two matches against the Korean national team in Anyang last June.”
“I am very happy to start my first professional career in Anyang, I like the enthusiasm of the fans and the atmosphere of the city. I am looking forward to joining the team and meeting KGC fans and will do my best for the team to win in the future,” said Abando in statement after the signing ceremony.