Another Filipino guard will be joining the Korean Basketball League (KBL) as Gerry Abadiano has signed with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
Now that Abadiano is headed to the KBL, he will join fellow Filipino guards Ethan Alvano, Miguel “Migs” Oczon, and SJ Belangel.
Abadiano Could Be a Reliable and Steady Backup Point Guard
For the two-time UAAP champion, it will be interesting to see whether his offense can remain effective against bigger, more athletic competition—especially since his defense has been considered average even in the local scene.
In 14 games during the 2025-26 MPBL season with the San Juan Knights, Abadiano averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field in just 16.6 minutes per game.
Known as one of the members of UP’s famed “Maroon 5,” Abadiano helped the San Juan Knights secure the top spot in the ongoing MPBL season with a 13-1 record.
Abadiano projects as a reliable backup guard at the professional level despite spending most of his collegiate career as a starting point guard.
In his final season with the UP Fighting Maroons, he averaged 8.72 points, 1.94 rebounds, and 1.56 assists per game but fell short of capturing another UAAP championship in Season 88.
Can Abadiano Help Turn Things Around for the Phoebus?
Mobis Phoebus finished with an 18-36 record, placed eighth in the standings, and missed the playoffs as the league featured a six-team postseason format. In short, last season was disappointing for the Korean squad.
During that season, the Phoebus were forced to change their Asian import after Migs Oczon suffered a season-ending shoulder injury just nine games into the campaign. They eventually signed former NU Bulldogs forward Jake Figueroa as his replacement.
After opening the season with a 3-6 record, the Phoebus went 15-30 for the remainder of the campaign with Figueroa on the roster. He averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
If the 25-year-old guard from Iloilo City hopes to help turn the franchise around, one thing is certain—it won’t just be his scoring that needs to reach another level. His playmaking and defense will also have to improve.
Based on what he has shown so far as a professional in the Philippines, Abadiano’s role will be completely different once he begins his KBL journey. He will be expected to contribute in almost every aspect of the game against tougher competition.
Can he accomplish the difficult task of helping the Phoebus return to the postseason?
It’s still too early to tell. However, based on what he has shown in the MPBL so far, he has plenty to prove before he can make that kind of impact in South Korea.
