By REYNALD MAGALLON
LAPU-LAPU CITY — PBA greats Danny Seigle and Jay Washington have nothing but sweet words for Anyang Red Boosters’ Filipino import Rhenz Abando.
Although both are already retired, the two have been following up-and-coming players here in the country and abroad – among them is the high-flying Abando.
“Sky’s the limit for him. He’s got a lot of potential and he’s getting great competition so I think that’s gonna help his game and he’s just gonna keep going and move forward,” Seigle said of Abando.
“For me, I was impressed seeing him play with the national team, just to see his level of aggressiveness when he’s competing at that stage. The national team level is not for everybody so to really show his stuff with the national team I am really impressed,” Washington seconded.
Those were two big stamps of approval for Abando especially from the former PBA stars who simply knew full well what it takes to be great in the sport.
Seigle, for one, was an eight-time PBA champion, four-time Finals Most Valuable Player and a two-time Best Player of the Conference awardee. Washington, for his part, was a four-time PBA champion and two-time BPC winner.
“Not afraid to go out there and compete and someone like that is only gonna get better,” Seigle added about Abando.
Washington also raved on the vast improvement in Abando’s game since going straight to Korea after foregoing his final year in the collegiate ranks.
“You can tell from his progression in the KBL from last year like how much he is better this year,” said Washington, who likewise experienced playing as an Asian import in the latter part of his illustrious career.
“It’s crazy like these young guys being able to leave the Philippines and play and be able to excel outside the Philippines and show why these guys are able to play as imports so I’ve been really impressed with Rhenz,” he added.
