MANILA (Philippines) - The Philippines have called up Rhenz Abando again after years to bolster their campaign in a crucial Window 5 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers later this month in Malaysia.
Known for his crazy athleticism, the 1.88 M (6'2") guard is named part of the Gilas' 12-man lineup for the November 26-29 games, as announced by no less than the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Wednesday.
This comes the morning after head coach Tim Cone spoke to the press and hinted at surprises on his squad for the upcoming tilt as the team works around the absences of key cogs in Calvin Oftana and Carl Tamayo.
Tamayo, who's become one of the frontrunners of the team's youth movement in recent windows, is out due to an ankle sprain. Oftana, on the other hand, decided to beg off, as he and his wife are expecting a baby.
"That idea of continuity and having these guys together through the windows gives us an opportunity to come in with everybody knowing it," he said. "Everybody else who's coming in pretty much knows what we're doing."
Indeed, Abando sure knows Cone's system even if it has been a while since he last wore the Philippines' colors, having worked with the veteran internationalist during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Manila.
Still at the helm at the time was Chot Reyes, although the current Gilas chief mentor was already on board during the World Cup Qualifiers as part of the coaching staff before being handed the reins early in 2024.
Now coming in armed with more experience being a champion in the Korean Basketball League, the Anyang JKJ star shall be one of the major additions to the present-day Team Pilipinas together with Bennie Boatwright.
With the squad still waiting for star winger Justin Brownlee to recover from his leg injuries, the former USC Trojans standout will soon start his journey as the Southeast Asian powerhouse's newest reinforcement.
"We're going to have to try and figure out a way to make him effective within the system and try to tweak it so we can get him effective and that's always difficult to do. But he's a talented guy," said Cone of the 30-year-old.
"He's going to lend a lot of talent to the team and size and perimeter shooting, so he's a welcome addition," he added. "He's going to maybe struggle a little bit ... but we're hoping his talent will win out on that."
Abando and Boatwright will be joining a team that's also welcoming back Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips. The two young bruisers are making their return after playing during the World Cup Qualifiers' First Round.
Also back in the fold are their fellow B.League standouts in Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and Kevin Quiambao, with PBA stars Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Juan Gomez de Liano, and CJ Perez completing the cast.
"It's pretty much the usual suspects," said Cone, as he now prepares his men for their games against Syria on the 27th and Team Melli on the 29th to be held on neutral grounds at the Karisma Arena in Seremban.
FIBA