Rhenz Abando set for Final Four after triumphant comeback from injury

Filipino star Rhenz Abando will help Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters battle for the East Asia Super League championship at the Final Four this week, after making a successful comeback from injury.

Abando made a stunning return today, in his first game in more than two months for Jung Kwan Jang. The 188cm guard was Player of the Game, after scoring 17 points in a 92-87 victory over Goyang Sono. He played 28 minutes, in which he also notched four rebounds and three assists.

Abando was cheered on at today’s game by the Philippines’ Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega.

EASL worked with Jung Kwan Jang to host H.E. Vega, other embassy officials, and members of the Filipino community in Anyang at the game.

Abando said, “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.”

He added, “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.”

Regarding his current physical condition, Abando said, “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.”

Today’s game was against the same opponents as the game in which Abando got injured on December 28. In that game, Sono player Chinanu Onuaku collided with Abando, causing a heavy fall for the Filipino guard that resulted in a lumbar fracture.

Ahead of today’s game, Abando and Onuako met each other. Abando said afterwards, “Onuaku said, ‘I’m sorry … It wasn’t intentional,’ and I responded that I had no personal feelings.”

Abando and his Jung Kwan Jang teammates fly to Cebu, the Philippines, this week to play in the EASL Final Four on March 8-10. Jung Kwan Jang faces Korean rivals Seoul SK Knights in the semifinals on March 8, in a game tipping off at 5 p.m. Philippines time.

This is followed by Chiba Jets (Japan – B.LEAGUE) vs. New Taipei Kings (Chinese Taipei – P. LEAGUE+) in the second semifinal at 8 p.m.

The semifinals will set the matchups in the Third Place Game and Championship Game on Sunday, March 10, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

Tickets for the Final Four are on sale now at www.TicketMAX.ph.

The EASL Final Four games will be broadcast and streamed live around the world by EASL’s partner media platforms: Cignal TV’s One Sports and One Sports+ channels in the Philippines; U-NEXT in Japan; SPOTV and SPOTV NOW in Korea and across Southeast Asia; Videoland in Taiwan; Zhibo8, NetEase, Jinan TV, and others in China; and on Courtside 1891 and EASL’s Facebook account in all other markets.