Rhenz Abando heading to SK after all, signs with Anyang

Rhenz Abando is turning pro. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Rhenz Abando is taking his talents to South Korea after all.

The high-flying wingman has officially turned pro and signed a deal with Anyang KGC as its Asian player quota.

Anyang announced the development on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Abando was initially revealed to have caught the attention of another Korean squad, the Changwon Sakers.

However, Abando at that time was dead set on staying with Letran for its NCAA title defense, prompting Changwon to turn its attention to Justin Gutang.

A month later, however, Abando somehow played a different tune after his first Gilas Pilipinas experience and expressed openness to play abroad, and he did forego his supposed last year in the amateur ranks.

Abando joins Gutang, Ethan Alvano, SJ Belangel, Will Navarro, and RJ Abarrientos as the first Filipinos to be signed to the KBL, but he may have just hit the jackpot among the other five.

Anyang finished 32-22 during the previous regular season, good for third place, but after sweeping Daegu in the quarterfinals, the team stunned outright semifinalist Suwon in the Final Four round before settling for the runner-up role to eventual champion Seoul-SK in the finals.

Anyang's finals appearance earned for itself a place in the inaugural EASL staging later this year even as the team was grouped together with Ryukyu and Taipei Fubon in Group A for the group stages along with the champion of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno