In 2022, the Korean Basketball League opened its doors to Filipino basketball players. Following the suit of the Japanese B.League, the Korean Basketball League has decided to expand its Asian Quota Players to Filipinos. Initially, the Korean Basketball League only had a working agreement regarding foreigners playing in the league with the Japanese B.League.
Former Ateneo Blue Eagle and Gilas Pilipinas mainstay SJ Belangel made history when he became the first Filipino to play in the Korean Basketball League when he signed with the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus in 2022. He was quickly followed by RJ Abarrientos, Justin Gutang, Ethan Alvano, and Will Navarro.
In the ongoing 2024-25 Korean Basketball League season, nine Filipino basketball players are currently playing in several teams, breaking record after record.
SJ Belangel
In June 2022, SJ Belangel decided to forgo his two years of eligibility left to play for Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP as he turned professional. Belangel became the first Filipino to sign a contract with a Korean Basketball League team as he inked a deal with the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus.
SJ is still playing for the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, where he continues to make history for Filipinos. He is averaging 14 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.5 steals. In Daegu KOGAS Pegasus’ 114-77 rout of the Seoul Samsung Thunders, Belangel put on a show as he delivered a career-high 36 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 29 minutes.
Before flying to Korea, Belangel was an integral part of the Ateneo de Manila University’s back-to-back UAAP championships in UAAP Season 81 and 82. He also played multiple times for the Philippine men’s national basketball team.
Justin Gutang
Justin Gutang is one of the first batch of Filipino cagers who play in the Korean Basketball League. Gutang played for the Changwon LG Sakers for two seasons, before transferring to Seoul Samsung Thunders.
In the 2024-25 season, Gutang averaged 9.3 points, 4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1 steal in 26 games played. Before coming to the Philippines, Gutang played for Skyline College in California. He transferred to the De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde in 2017, where he played for two seasons. Wearing the green and white jersey, Gutang averaged 12.4 points, 6.91 rebounds, 4.26 assists, and 1.14 steals in 35 games played.
Ethan Alvano
Filipino-American Ethan Alvano was a history-maker when he was named as Most Valuable Player of the 2023-24 Korean Basketball League. Alvano has been playing for the Wonju DB Promy since 2022.
In his MVP season, he tallied a double-double performance with career-highs 33 points and 12 assists in Wonju DB Promy’s game against the Goyang Sono Skygunners. He averaged 15.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, league-leading 6.6 assists, and 1.5 steals as he led the Wonju DB Promy to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions Busan KCC. Alvano was also named as part of KBL Best 5 during the same season.
Migs Oczon
In 2023, Migs Oczon decided to forego his remaining two years of eligibility to play for the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA as he took his talent to the Korean Basketball League to play for the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
In 2024, Oczon delivered the game-winning three to introduce himself to Korean fans in Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus’ 83-82 win against the Suwon KT Sonicboom. Over a year later, Oczon scored his career-high 31 points in a losing effort as the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus bowed down against Seoul SK Knights.
Juan Gomez de Liaño
After playing in Dubai, the Philippines, and Japan, former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon Juan Gomez de Liaño took his talents to Japan when he signed a three-year deal with Seoul SK Knights in 2023.
Unfortunately, de Liaño has yet to shine in the Korean Basketball League as he was sidelined because of a finger injury in March 2024. Since then, he has seen limited minutes in the main division.
Carl Tamayo
After his forgettable stint in the Japanese B.League with the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Carl Tamayo saw the sun shine bright in the Korean Basketball League where he is playing with the Changwon LG Sakers.
In his first game with the Changwon LG Sakers, he contributed eight points, seven rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block in his team’s win against the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus. Since then, Tamayo has been performing well, becoming the first Asian import to be selected as the MVP of the third round of the ongoing season.
Javi Gomez de Liaño
With stints in the Japanese B.League and the Philippine Basketball Association, Javi Gomez de Liaño flew to Japan in 2024 to play for the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters, replacing fellow Filipino Rhenz Abando.
De Liaño’s big game came against fellow Filipino Carl Tamayo and the Changwon LG Sakers, where he scored 17 points in 25 minutes. He is currently averaging 6.3 points and 2 rebounds.
JD Cagulangan
Fresh from his championship against the De La Salle University Green Archers, former Fighting Maroon and UAAP Season 87 Finals MVP JD Cagulangan signed with the Suwon KT Sonicboom in December 2024.
In just three games, Cagulangan is averaging 10.3 points, 3 rebounds, and six assists. Cagulangan’s best game came against the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus where he tallied 15 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Kevin Quiambao
After the best-of-three UAAP Finals, back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao confirmed that he signed a contract with Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League. Unfortunately, in his debut game against the Seoul SK Knights, Quiambao suffered an injury that limited him to six points and one rebound.
Without Quiambao, the Goyang Sono Skygunners suffered a humiliating 57-84 loss against the Seoul SK Knights, led by fellow Filipino Juan Gomez de Liaño. According to reports, Quiambao will miss the games for a month to recover from his injury.
