Talented guard Rhenz Abando admitted that there was a time when he didn’t think he would be playing for the national basketball team.
Abando made his bones playing for the University of Sto. Tomas in the UAAP and Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA.
But he would not have made it without the help of former Letran star Chris Calaguio.
“Nung bata ako, hindi naman talaga ako nangarap na, kahit nga makapag-college eh, sa malalaking universities sa Manila. Basta ako, naglalaro lang ako kung saan ako dalhin. Nung nag-college ako, naglaro lang rin ako sa Pangasinan,” Abando, who is now part of Korean team Anyang KGC, said in an interview with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Carlo Pamintuan.
“‘Di rin ako nag-expect eh. Nagkataon lang na si Coach Chis Calaguio ‘yung coach ko so mas naging marami ‘yung experience. Mas advanced ako sa ibang players sa probinsya.”
Years later, he got a call to join the Gilas pool.
He believes it was the culmination of all the hard work he did on the court.
“Basta naglaro lang ako ng naglaro. ‘Di ko rin inexpect na kahit na college, kahit din ‘tong World Cup, ‘di ko inexpect na makakasama ako sa pool,” said Abando.
This now gives him the chance to become part of the team’s Final 12 for FIBA’s most prestigious tournament, the FIBA World Cup.
It will be an achievement worth sharing with his future kids and grandchildren.
“Talagang sabi ko, kahit anong mangyari, kukunin ko ‘to. Para after ko man dito, sabi ko sa mga teammate ko, kahit ikwento mo ako sa magiging anak mo, or sa magiging apo mo, kasama ako noon,” he said.
See Related Story:
