SJ Belangel erupted for 32 points as Daegu KOGAS Pegasus took down Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus, 79-77, on Saturday in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
The former Gilas Pilipinas guard continued to be the shining light for his team as he also collected six assists and five rebounds to hike Daegu's record to 9-19.
READ Carl Tamayo has solid case to win MVP as KBL enters halfway mark
His performance was the strongest among the Filipino contingent in the opening weekend of 2026.
Carl Tamayo's 21-point night ended up in vain as Changwon LG Sakers suffered a slim 76-75 defeat to JD Cagulangan and the Suwon KT SonicBoom on Sunday.
Tamayo also had two rebounds and two assists, but Derrick Williams' game-winner proved to be the difference maker in the win that ended the Sakers' two-game win streak. Still, they lead the league with their 20-8 card.
Cagulangan, for his part, had six points, five assists, and two rebounds for the 15-14 SonicBoom, following up on his two points, six boards, and six assists in their 76-60 rout of Goyang Sono Skygunners the day prior.
Kevin Quiambao had 17 points on a cold 3-of-12 shooting from deep, three rebounds and two assists in the Saturday loss that condemned Goyang down to 10-18.
Resurgent forward William Navarro's near-double-double performance also ended in a loss as Busan KCC Egis tasted a 76-68 defeat at the hands of Anyang Jung Kwan Jang on Sunday.
Navarro sustained his return to form notching 17 points and nine rebounds, but Busan slipped to a 16-12 record.
Rhenz Abando was limited to just two points and one assist in the contest for the 19-10 Anyang, which was also coming off a 78-74 defeat to Arvin Tolentino's Seoul SK Knights on Saturday at Jamsil Student Gymnasium.
In that game, the high-flying forward had seven points and five boards.
Tolentino, on the other hand, only tallied three points, one rebound, and one steal, but his Seoul SK peers picked up the cudgels to improve to 15-14.
Meanwhile, Ethan Alvano stuffed the stat sheet in Wonju DB Promy's 83-76 road win against Seoul Samsung Thunders at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium on Sunday, collecting 17 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds to push Wonju up to an 18-10 card.
Justin Gutang got four points, three rebounds, three assists in the losing cause for Seoul Samsung (9-19).
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
