By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino Asian import Rhenz Abando is pumped up to win the East Asia Super League (EASL) championship title in front of his fans when the Final Four playoffs series kicks off at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.
Already ruled out after suffering multiple fractures and concussion last January 4, 2024, during a regular season game in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), Abando made a quick recovery and received the green light to suit up in the EASL.
During Abando and Anyang Jung Kwan Jang’s game against the Goyang Sono Skygunners, the high-leaping swingman suffered a bad fall in a battle for the offensive rebound with 4:24 remaining in the second quarter.
After a missed jumper from Anyang, Abando soared for the offensive rebound but crashed hard down the hardwood, resulting in a fracture to his third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, a concussion, and a sprained wrist.
Abando then quickly grabbed his head and was grimacing in pain. The KBL medical team tried to put him on a stretcher but fortunately, the Filipino stood on his own and wobbled directly to his bench.
According to an update by Jumpball Korea, Chinanu Onuaku, Goyang’s import who was seen slightly pushing Abando when he was in mid-air, was fined $2,317 (128,862 pesos) by the KBL committee.
After a thorough review of what transpired which led to Abando’s hard fall, the officials declared that Onuaku slightly pushed the Anyang high flyer which caused him to lose his balance on his way down.
Now that Abando is fully recovered, the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang is optimistic that they can win the championship title in Cebu on March 8, 2024.
Abando and his teammates will be taking on the Seoul SK Knights to open their EASL Final Four campaign. The other qualifiers were the Chiba Jets from the Japan B. League and the New Taipei squad from the Taiwan League.
