The KBL postseason is in full swing.
March is over and Anyang KGC—along with Rhenz Abando—won the Korean Basketball League regular season title. It's the latest in the squad's impressive March feats after winning the East Asia Super League Champions Week.
But the real competition is just getting started with the top six squads duking it out in the playoffs.
Anyang's breakout player, Rhenz Abando, has been definitely living his dreams in South Korea.
The former Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knight is averaging 9.0 points, 1.0 assists, and 2.3 rebounds for the top tier squad, along with a 49% field goal percentage.
Joining him in the playoffs is RJ Abarrientos, fresh off winning the KBL Rookie of the Year award.
The former sharpshooter for the Far Eastern University is averaging 13.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.9 rebounds for the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
They are currently fourth in the league.
"Took a long time just to feel like this. #hungryfomore 🛸," he posted.
Meanwhile, two more Filipino players who competed as part of the KBL's Asian Quota have returned to the Philippines after the regular season ended.
Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles standout SJ Belangel got quite a glow-up after his stint with Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, making 7.0 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game.
While Daegu might have finished ninth in the competition, the former Gilas Pilipinas player believes his journey is just getting beginning.
"'Life is a Marathon, Not A Race' I'm just getting started." Belangel posted on Instagram.
"I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for welcoming and supprting me in my first pro career in Korea with open arms. I really appreciate every Daegu and Korean [fans] for their unending support-win or lose," he added.
"Sa mga kabayan salamat sa pagpunta sa games namin at sa patuloy na suporta. I hope to see you all soon. Fighting!"
His Ateneo teammate Dave Ildefonso also came home after Suwon KT Sonicboom ended up in eighth place.
Ildefonso averaged 5.1 points, 1.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds for the team. Back in January, he explained why he made the jump to the pros.
"A wise person once said that the things you do for yourself die with you, but the things you do for others live on," he posted on Instagram.
"It will be great for both our national basketball program and our professional league for young guys like me to experience first-hand the basketball culture of other countries, and eventually share that knowledge back home."
"I believe that my stint in Korea will not only benefit me but will give my family pride," he added in the post.
Well, his brother Shaun was definitely happy to see him, or maybe it was the kicks Air Kimchi brought home.
