SJ Belangel, Arvin Tolentino shine in big KBL nights

It was a night of turning points and statement performances for Filipino standouts in the Korean Basketball League.

In Daegu, desperation met opportunity — and finally, relief.

After seven straight defeats, Daegu KoGas found its breakthrough in the most dramatic fashion possible, edging league-leading Changwon LG Sakers, 72–71, before a roaring home crowd at the Daegu Gymnasium. The victory didn’t just end a skid; it came at the expense of the KBL’s top team.

Former Gilas Pilipinas floor general SJ Belangel steadied the ship when it mattered most. In 19 efficient minutes, he tallied 10 points, five assists, and three rebounds, helping KoGas regain composure in crunch time and return to the win column. The result lifted KoGas to 12–27, a modest improvement in the standings but a significant emotional boost for a squad searching for traction. LG, despite the setback, remains firmly atop the league at 28–12.

While Belangel orchestrated a revival in Daegu, Arvin Tolentino authored a personal milestone in Seoul.

Tolentino erupted for a new KBL career-high 26 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, and three steals in the Seoul Knights’ commanding 81–64 victory over the Goyang Sono Skygunners. It was an assertive, all-around display that underscored his growing confidence in the league.

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Arvin Tolentino latest three-game statistics.

3GAMES
26MIN
16.3PTS
3.7REB
1.0STL
3.3TOV
61%FG
44%3PT
70%FT

Note: He played very well in place of An Youngjun.#ArvinTolentino pic.twitter.com/vmUjsjlHzw

— 알럽바스켓공 (@baekpd1983) February 1, 2026

On the other side, Kevin Quiambao endured a rare off night. The versatile forward finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists but struggled to find his rhythm, shooting just 3-of-11 from the field as Goyang fell behind early and never fully recovered.

Elsewhere, the night nearly belonged to Justin Gutang.

The high-energy guard flirted with a triple-double in Seoul Thunders’ 104–101 overtime loss to the Suwon KT Sonicboomers. Gutang dished out 10 assists and came within a single point and rebound of completing the stat sheet trifecta, delivering one of his most complete performances of the season despite the narrow defeat.

Suwon KT continues to navigate life without JD Cagulangan, who has been ruled out for the 2025–2026 season after suffering an ACL injury last month against Wonju DB Promy. The absence of the dynamic guard has reshaped the team’s rotation, but the Sonicboomers managed to grind out the extra-period win regardless.

With the regular-season grind intensifying, more opportunities await.

Jake Figueroa looks to sustain his steady play as Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus host the Seoul Thunders on Thursday, while Rhenz Abando and Anyang JungKwanJang prepare for a Friday showdown against Suwon KT.

From breaking losing streaks to setting career highs and flirting with historic stat lines, Filipino players continue to leave their imprint across the KBL landscape — one game-changing performance at a time.

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