Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas high-flyer Rhenz Abando in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila. Photo from FIBA Basketball.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752063003766IMG_7381.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Gilas Pilipinas high-flyer Rhenz Abando in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila. Photo from FIBA Basketball."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gilas Pilipinas high-flyer Rhenz Abando in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila. <em>Photo from FIBA Basketball.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Rhenz Abando has another opportunity to take flight with Gilas Pilipinas after two years.</div><p>A member of the 2023 FIBA World Cup group, the high-flying wingman out of Santo Tomas, La Union will have the chance to join the National team anew as he was recently included in the 2025 Asia Cup pool.</p><p>&quot;Sobrang happy na naging part ulit ako ng Gilas pool,” the Colegio de San Juan de Letran product said at the sidelines of Strong Group-Pilipinas’ media availability on Wednesday in Manila.</p><p>Abando, together with Zav Lucero, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario, was included in the pool from which the Final 12 will be chosen, and the 6-foot-2 guard expressed how he will be pouring it all in to secure his spot.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/8/when-will-new-additions-rhenz-abando-zav-lucero-join-gilas-training-1811">READ: When will new additions Rhenz Abando, Zav Lucero join Gilas training?</a></div><p>“Gagawin ko lahat,” he said, before expressing how he did not even think twice of accepting the call to don the country’s Blue, Red, and White.</p><p>“Bakit ko pa pagde-desisyunan yun? Gilas na yun eh,” he emphasized. “Hindi naman nasagasaan yung sa SGA, at open naman sila. ‘Di ko na yun pag-iisipan.”</p><p>Asked when he will be joining the team, Abando said that it is highly likely to be after Strong Group&#x27;s upcoming stint in the 2025 William Jones Cup.</p><p>“Tatawagan raw nila ako kapag kailangan na nila ako sa practice,” he said.</p><p>For now, his focus is on helping SGA defend the crown that the squad took home in the 2024 edition, and helping him with this goal is his former Gilas teammate Kiefer Ravena.</p><p>“Kasama ko siya lagi, pero inside the court, sobrang happy ko kasi sobrang dami ko sa kanyang natututunan,” shared Abando. “Off the court, marami din naman, at talagang masarap siyang kasama at kakampi.”</p><div>SGA-Philippines will open its Jones Cup title defense against Chinese-Taipei A on July 13 at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan. -- <strong>with reports from Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News<br/></strong><strong></strong><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEO:<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjrO4k9uFy8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>"Air Abando" has another opportunity to take flight with Gilas Pilipinas after two years.</p>

"Air Abando" has another opportunity to take flight with Gilas Pilipinas after two years.

FIBA: No thinking twice about accepting latest Gilas call-up, says Rhenz Abando

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Basketball

FIBA: No thinking twice about accepting latest Gilas call-up, says Rhenz Abando

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2025 08:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

ABSNews

Gilas Pilipinas

Rhenz Abando

Strong Group-Pilipinas

2025 FIBA Asia Cup

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.