Willie Marcial says Korean Basketball League open to player exchange with PBA

PBA Commissioner WIllie Marcial and KBL commissioner Kim Hee Ok. –PBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial said the Korean Basketball League (KBL) is interested to have its players see action in the PBA.

Marcial and KBL commissioner Kim Hee Ok met over dinner on Tuesday after the two attended the East Asia Super League’s grouping ceremony.

“Yes, they’re open to it. But we still need to talk about the process because players in Korea have long contracts so we still need to see how we can make this work,” Marcial said in Filipino on the PBA website.

Back in 2015, South Korean player Kim Jiwan played for Barangay Ginebra as its Asian import.

In the KBL today, three Filipinos in SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos and Justin Gutang have signed contracts for the upcoming season as an influx of local talents in other Asian leagues continues.

Belangel was the first Filipino to sign with a KBL team as an import, forgoing his UAAP career at Ateneo after agreeing to a deal with the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus.

Marcial had already said he is open to having other Asian players suit up in the PBA.

Marcial also said maintaining “constant communication” between the two leagues was also discussed.

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