Jessica Benson saw Rhenz Abando during Ja Morant’s tour in the Philippines. Filipinos kept tagging her in his highlight video, saying ‘Sign him to Memphis Grizzlies!’ She said she couldn’t stop giggling while watching all the love he was getting

Jessica Benson was one of the reasons why Kai Sotto was close to signing with Memphis, but before it could happen, Kai Sotto suffered an ACL injury that stopped everything

When Memphis Grizzlies radio host Jessica Benson visited the Philippines as part of Ja Morant’s tour, she expected excitement — but not the unexpected attention surrounding Filipino basketball star Rhenz Abando.

During the event, fans started tagging Jessica in highlight videos of Abando, showing off his high-flying dunks, quick cuts, and fearless drives to the rim. Many comments came with the same message: “Sign him to the Memphis Grizzlies!”

“I couldn’t stop giggling,” Benson admitted on her social media. “Filipino fans are so passionate — the love they showed Rhenz was incredible, and honestly, the guy’s got serious talent.”

Abando, known for his athleticism and energy on the court, clearly made an impression not just on the local crowd but also on the visiting NBA delegation. While there are no official talks between Abando and the Grizzlies, the online buzz has sparked curiosity among international basketball circles.

Whether or not this leads to something bigger, one thing is clear: the Philippines’ love for their homegrown stars shines brightly — and Jessica Benson felt it firsthand.

When Jessica Benson, the popular Memphis Grizzlies radio and TV host, joined Ja Morant on his highly anticipated tour of the Philippines, she expected a warm welcome and plenty of basketball excitement. What she didn’t expect was to be flooded with highlight clips of a rising Filipino star — Rhenz Abando.

As the Grizzlies delegation touched down and appeared at packed events filled with passionate fans, social media in the Philippines lit up with clips of Abando soaring through the air for emphatic dunks, making clutch threes, and locking down defenders. Filipino fans weren’t just impressed — they were determined to make sure Benson noticed.

“My notifications were blowing up,” Jessica laughed. “Every time I opened my phone, there were more tags, more highlights, and the same message: ‘SIGN RHENZ TO THE GRIZZLIES!’ I couldn’t stop giggling.”

It wasn’t long before she gave in and watched a few of the clips. Her reaction? Pure delight.

“Okay, I get it now. The guy’s electric,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Y’all weren’t kidding!”

Rhenz Abando, a fan favorite in the Philippines and currently playing professionally in Korea, is known for his explosive athleticism, charismatic energy, and fearless playstyle. He’s no stranger to viral moments, but having an NBA media personality react to him in real-time was something new — and thrilling for Filipino fans.

“I think what touched me the most was how proud everyone was of him,” Benson added. “It wasn’t just about basketball — it was about national pride. You could feel it in every comment and every video.”

Although the Grizzlies haven’t made any official moves, the fan-driven campaign to put Abando on Memphis’s radar has certainly made waves. And for Jessica Benson, it’s a reminder of the power of basketball to connect people across the world — with a good dose of humor and heart.

“Who knows what the future holds,” she smiled. “But one thing’s for sure: Rhenz Abando has an army behind him — and they are loud, proud, and absolutely unforgettable.”