Professional basketball Anyang KGC’s outlook for this season was bleak. Strategist Kim Seung-gi and Jeon Seong-hyun, who were in charge of the team’s outer gun, left for Carrot, Goyang side by side. The new head coach was Kim Sang-sik, who had left the Korean Basketball League (KBL) for eight years. On the other hand, Jeonju KCC gathered expectations. Two star players, Heo Woong and Lee Seung-hyun, were recruited, and a great coach named Jeon Chang-jin was still with them.
However, until the All-Star break on the 12th, KGC was in first place (22 wins and 9 losses). KCC was tied for 5th place (16 wins, 15 losses), and was only in the middle of the fight. To blame the foreign player, KCC’s naturalized player Ra Gun-ah is active as usual.
The contrast between the two teams was divided according to how well they used the ‘Asian Quarter’ system, which was changed this season. Apart from the usual restrictions on foreign players, the ‘Asia Quarter’, which allowed up to one additional Japanese national player to be registered, was also opened to Filipino players from this season.
KGC put a lot of effort into recruiting to make good use of it before the season, and in June signed Lens Abando (25), who performed impressively in a friendly match between Korea and the Philippines. It is rumored that when Abando hesitated to make his professional debut because he was still a college student, he was able to join KGC after hard persuasion. As if to reciprocate, Abando led the team’s upward trend with elasticity that is rare in KBL.
Not only KGC, but the team that actively utilized the ‘Asia Quarter’ is achieving more than expected this season. Changwon LG, which was evaluated as a low-ranking team, is promoting itself with Justin Gutang (25) in second place (17 wins, 12 losses). Ulsan Hyundai Mobis is also in third place (17-14) thanks to Ronjay Avarientos (24) leading the team’s attack. These three Filipino guards disrupt the opponent’s defense with their unique elasticity and agility. It is an analysis that it is not easy to block it because it is a type that is hard to see in KBL so far.
KCC put their hopes on the triangular formation of Heo Woong-Lee Seung-Hyun-La Gun-A without a Filipino player, but they are now tied for 5th place after half the season. In the end, guard Jeffrey Epistola (27), who belatedly recruited after searching for the Philippine market, will scramble after the All-Star break. Suwon KT, which was evaluated as a strong team, also did not use the Asian quota and stayed in 7th place (13 wins, 17 losses). Also in the second half, he will be with Philippine national team guard Dave Ildefonso (23). 바카라
There are also concerns that the Filipino storm could poison the domestic basketball world. Clubs are more likely to prefer the latter among Korean players who have similar skills and Filipino players who do not have to do compulsory military service, and because of that, the opportunity for Korean players to play is further reduced. KBS N commentator Son Dae-beom said, “It is understandable that the parents of young players and college coaches are concerned. The Korean basketball world can also learn from the Filipino players that they can play in a variety of ways.”