Winning comes naturally for Air Abando.
From an unknown rookie in the UAAP to becoming a bona fide star in the Korean Basketball League, Rhenz Abando’s rise in the basketball world has been one to marvel.
After coming home to the Philippines for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters’ EASL match versus the TNT Tropang Giga, the Pangasinan-native received a warm welcome from his kababayans.
Abando even took the time to attend to his fans, who were asking him for autographs and photo opportunities.
Abando’s rise to stardom started with the UST Growling Tigers back in UAAP Season 82, when he helped the team make a surprise appearance in the UAAP Finals.
After pandemic-related controversy caused his UST exit, the 6-foot-2 athletic guard moved to the Letran Knights, where he would blossom into the star he is today.
In Letran, Abando would go on to win the NCAA Season 97 Rookie of the Year and MVP. But most importantly, he would go on to lead the Knights to the title, serving a bridge to the school's most recent basketball dynasty.
Offers abroad eventually started to come for Abando, and he ultimately decided to play for Anyang in Korea.
Success followed Rhenz overseas, as his Anyang KGC bagged two titles in 2023 from the East Asia Super League and the KBL.
[ALSO READ: ‘The ride is never easy’: Rhenz Abando pens emotional message after becoming KBL champion]
In between, Abando played for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, serving up highlight plays and providing a good note to an otherwise challenging campaign for the national team.
Looking at how everything has panned in his career, especially in what has been a wild full year, the 25-year-old Abando still can’t believe how he was able to reach this point.
“Hanggang ngayon ‘di parin ako makapaniwala kasi hindi ko ‘rin inaakala na dati nasa probinsya lang ako,” Abando said.
“‘Naglalaro lang ako dati sa probinsiya. Nung naglalaro ako, wala sa isip ko mag-laro sa college then napunta ako sa college,” he added.
As successful he is now, Abando is beyond grateful as he relishes the opportunities afforded to him by the game he loves.
“Sobrang masaya lang ako kasi nangyari lahat to sakin, kasi if ever hindi ‘to mangyari sakin, hindi ko alam kung nasan ako ngayon."