ALL eyes will be on Rhenz Abando (right) when UST battles NU. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG
University of Santo Tomas (UST) star Rhenz Abando has been drawing attention even before the start of the ongoing University Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
A school insider told Daily Tribune that a prominent former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player had been reaching out to Abando as early as February when he was still playing for the Ironcon-UST in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.
The source didn’t name the recruiter, but hinted that they both came from the same province that left the young forward confused.
The insider also declined to formally name the school, but various media reports that circulated Thursday afternoon identified National University as the one that was very interested in acquiring Abando’s services.
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Reports have it that the offer was initially P150,000 before it was increased to P300,000, P500,000 an P1.5 million.
When the offer soared to as high as P3 million, Abando got confused, prompting UST coach Aldin Ayo to bench him in their game against University of the Philippines so “he can think things over.”
“Yes, it’s true; a former PBA player has been brokering his transfer to another school even during the PBA D-League last February. They hailed from the same province so, of course, Rhenz would talk to him,” said the source, a member of the inner circle of the Growling Tigers.
“Of course, Rhenz got confused. Anybody who would be offered that much would also get confused.”
But after a stormy turn of events, Ayo sat down with Abando and talked to his mother, where he was given an assurance that the high-flying forward would stay and finish his collegiate career with the UAAP.
“Abando will stay,” said Ayo, who has an extensive experience coaching at the grassroots level starting with the Jr. NBA Asia program, Letran College, De La Salle University and UST.
“He’s always been committed to UST. He also affirmed to us that he will finish his collegiate career with us.”
The Bulldogs denied their involvement in the issue with their representative to the UAAP Board of Managers and Directors Nilo Ocampo claiming that he has no idea on what is happening to their men’s basketball program.
“To be honest, I don’t have any idea on that,” Ocampo said.
“I am also at a loss. I was also shocked as well when I heard the news. But really, we are not part of it.”
