Rhenz Abando shines in KBL All-Star, wins slam dunk contest 

By NIKOLE JAVIER 

Rhenz Abando made sure to stamp his class with his leaping ability after ruling the slam dunk competition of the Korean Basketball League All-Star weekend on Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Suwon KT Arena. 

Abando, who sees action for the league-leading Anyang KGC, put on a show with his impressive dunks including a two-handed 360 slam that earned him a couple of perfect scores from the judges. 

The former NCAA MVP took home the KRW2 million (P88,000) cash prize after besting Suwon KT Sonicboom’s Ha Yun-gi, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus’ Choi Jin-soo and Goyang Carrot Jumpers’ Park Jin-cheol. 

After impressing in the slam dunk contest, Abando couldn't get enough of the show and teamed up with fellow Pinoy imports RJ Abarrientos of Ulsan and SJ Belangel of the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus in the 3X3 event. 

The trio turned away the locals in Anyang’s Byeon Jun-hyeong, Goyang’s Lee Jung-hyun and Soul SK Knights’ Kim Sun-hyung for the 13-7 victory. 

However, Abarrientos, who was the lone Filipino to make it to the main All-Star Game, couldn’t power Team Heo Ung past Team Lee Dae-sung, 122-117. 

The former Far Eastern University standout also took part in the three-point shootout where he only tallied 13 points, failing to advance over four other locals.

Abarrientos then finished with three points, three rebounds and three assists in the losing effort in 14 minutes of play for the main mid-season event.