Rhenz Abando will be making the most out of his stint with Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the 44th William Jones Cup as he hopes to make the final roster of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia from 5 to 17 August.

Abando said he immediately accepted the offer to be part of the Gilas pool together with RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario of Barangay Ginebra and Zav Lucero of Magnolia.

Abandon, a Korean Basketball League champion, said he was informed by Gilas team manager Richard del Rosario that he will call him as soon as he wraps up his Jones Cup stint.

“Why do I need to think about it? It’s Gilas. My schedule is free and they know I’m here,” Abando said at the sidelines of SGA training at the College of Saint Benilde gymnasium on Wednesday.

“I’m happy to be part of Gilas again and I hope I will be able to make it to the roster.”

“Coach Richard asked me when I would be back and told me he would call me when they needed me in practice.”

Together with stars like Kiefer Ravena, Jason Brickman, Ange Kouame and import Andre Roberson, Abando will be one of the key players when SGA kicks off its title-retention bid in the Jones Cup against Chinese Taipei A on Monday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City.

Another Jones Cup title would be a big boost to Abando’s bid of making the final Gilas roster that will compete in the Asia Cup.

In fact, the Chinese Taipei squad that the SGA will be facing is the same team that features Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga, Chien-Hao Ma, Chun Hsiang Lu, and naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck. They defeated Gilas, 84-91, in the Asia Cup Qualifiers last February.