Rhenz Abando happy to play for Gilas, but admits he can do more

NCAA Season 97 Rookie of the Year-MVP Rhenz Abando has been on a roll lately.

After winning the NCAA championship with his team Colegio de San Juan de Letran in May, Abando was invited to play for the national team and had his first official stint with Gilas Pilipinas during the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers late June.

During the game against New Zealand on Thursday, the Letran star had 11 points, but was limited to two points during the game against India last Sunday.

Abando said while he is happy representing the Philippines on the world stage, he knows he can do more.

"Ok naman, kasi para sa Gilas, para sa bayan," Abando said in an interview on Sunday.

"Masaya pero parang kulang pa. Alam ko may pagkukulang sa akin kasi hindi ako kondisyon," he admitted. "Ginagawa ko 'yung 100% pero alam ko may ibubuga pa."

Gilas Pilipinas will compete next in the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia. They will open their campaign in the regional tourney when they play Lebanon on July 13. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has yet to release the lineup for the tournament.

Abando, however, will also have a chance to showcase his skills in the upcoming PBA D-League with the Wangs Basketball-Letran team. Letran will face St. Clare in the opening game of the D-League on Thursday.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News