By REYNALD MAGALLON
The PBA has already reached out to the Korean Basketball League to get clearance for high-flying wingman Rhenz Abando to join Gilas Pillipinas campaign in the upcoming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China later this month.
A report from Korean sports website Jumpball said that the Anyang Jungkwan Jang Red Booster (formerly Anyang KGC) received a letter from the PBA requesting to allow Abando’s participation in the quadrennial meet.
Abando is still in the country following his stint in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and has yet to rejoin Anyang for its preparation for its title-retention bid in the KBL.
The Gilas winger, who emerged as one of the solid contributors for the Nationals, was not in the lineup for Anyang in the 2023 Hotel Flora Preseason Cup to be held in Japan over the weekend.
“An official letter has arrived from the Philippine Basketball Association. Entry has not been confirmed yet. I understand that discussions are underway on whether to include players who play not only in Abando but also in Japan,” an official said quoted in the report.
Aside from KBL, the league has also reportedly reached out to Japan B.League players for the Asiad although it’s still unclear which players the PBA is asking clearance for.
So far, only 6-foot-10 big man AJ Edu remains in the country although he is already set to join the Toyama Grouses for the B.League buildup. Other Gilas players that were already in Japan to join their respective teams were Kiefer Ravena, Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos.
