Six former collegiate players from the Philippines have signed up lucrative contracts in the 2022-2023 season of the Korean Basketball League.
According to reports, Justin Gutang follows Rhenz Abando in getting a big paycheck in the league when he signed for a one-year deal worth 213 million won, or P8.811-million.
Gutang, who last played as a small forward for the College of Saint Benilde Blazers two years ago in the National Collegiate Athletic Association men basketball tournament, is now with the Changwon LG in the KBL.
Before Gutang left for Korea, he played for Nueva Ecija and led the team to the grand finals in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Invitationals.
Abando tops the list of Asian quota imports with a salary of 237 million won, or P13.89 million on his first season with Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation.
The 24-year-old Abando, formerly from the Letran Knights, has recovered from a knee injury, and is expected to play this weekend.
Next is Lee Sun Albano (DB Suwon) at 200 million won (P8.273 million), followed by former Far Eastern University standout Rhon Jay Abarrientos (Hyundai Mobis), who signed up for 193 million won or P9.84 million as a starting point guard for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.
Abarientos is currently averaging 15.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists with Mobis, while Albano norms 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
There’s also Christian David (Samsung) at 140 million won (P5.791-million) and ex-Ateneo Blue Eagles, Sam Josef Belangel (KOGAS) at 132 million won (P5.457-million).
After that, Goyang has the only Japanese Asian Quarter player in Hisashi Moriguchi, who is playing for them to the tune of 60 million won.