Abando makes KBL return, guides Anyang with EASL Final Four in sight

Rhenz Abando (c/o EASL)

With the East Asia Super League's Final Four set this coming weekend, good news arrived for Anyang Jung Kwan Jang.

Rhenz Abando played 28 minutes in the Red Boosters' 92-87 victory over Goyang Sono, his first game back since his injury.

The guard contributed seventeen points, as well as grabbing four rebounds and dishing three assists, after sitting out a couple months since his harrowing fall last December 28. Fittingly it was against the same opponent.

He shared about their performance, "I am happy that I was able to win on my comeback match. The team still has some room to improve, but I am happy that we won."

Sono reinforcement Chinuanu Onuaku, whose collision with Abando caused the fall that led to his lumbar fracture, met with him ahead of today's matchup. The latter shares, "Onuaku said, ‘I’m sorry … It wasn’t intentional,’ and I responded that I had no personal feelings."

The return was made more special with the presence of the Philippines Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega gracing the occassion, alongside fellow embassy officials, as well as the Filipino community in Anyang, which is located twenty miles southwest of the South Korean capital Seoul.

Abando adds, "The support of the Filipino fans is a great help. The embassy people came, so I think I’m even happier that we won the game."

EASL officials worked with the Red Boosters in getting the contingent present for the important matchup.

The win ended a nine-game skid in the league for Anyang, who have especially struggled during Abando's absence, having won just five games in all competitions since the injury. A couple of those wins came during EASL's group phase, allowing them entry in to the Final Four, set to take place at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City on March 8-10.

The Red Boosters will face off against the Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals at 5pm, followed by the Chiba Jets against the New Taipei Kings at 8pm. The winners will face off for the championship a couple of days later at 7pm, with the third place game taking place at 4pm the same day.

About his chances in playing the Final Four, Abando notes about his condition, "It is currently at 85-90 percent. It’s hard to talk about pain right now – there is pain when leaning over. I hope that after sleeping for a day, the pain will go away and I can play in the EASL."

Tickets for the four games are already available via TicketMax, with the games set for broadcast on One Sports and One Sports+, as well as streamed through Pilipinas Live.