SEOUL SK could possibly sign University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons’ cager Terrence Fortea in its ongoing season in the Korean Basketball League.
SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol hinted of bringing in a young player from the Philippines after they pulled off a 78-73 win over Korea Gas Corp.-Daegu, which has former Ateneo cager Sam Josef Belangel in the roster.
“If Choi Won-hyuk goes beyond the game against Samsung (25th), he will have to reconsider his player rotation. It is my ability to not use the resources I have. He is definitely needed. When Filipino players meet us, they do very well,” said Jeon in a statement to Korean sports media.
Choi is one of SK’s key players in Jeon’s rotation.
Fortea, who played meaningful minutes for the Fighting Maroons in the recent finals of the 85th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball finals, is drawing interest because of his performance.
A shifty guard, Fortea averaged 8.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.47 assists.
Seoul SK is currently in fifth place with its 12-12 win-loss slate.
Fortea follows in the footsteps of Ateneo Blue Eagle Dave Ildefonso, who is finalizing plans to sign up with Suwon KT SonicBoom, which is at the bottom of the standings at 10-10.
The 22-year-old Ildefonso is being valued by Korean club teams for his versatility on the floor, between being a shooting guard and a small forward
They find Ildefonso’s averages of 12.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in UAAP Season 85 very enticing.
Korean scouts even hardly minded his measly 5.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in Game 3 of their best-of-three finals with the Maroons.