Migs Oczon excited to see familiar faces, old foes in KBL

Migs Oczon will travel miles away to start a new path in his budding basketball career, but there will be no shortage of people to remind him of home.

Oczon recently signed a contract to play for the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), going professional and waiving his two remaining years of eligibility with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in the NCAA.

In Korea, Oczon will get to share the court with a number of familiar faces he either played against or with in the past.

"Siguro excited ako sa style of play kasi basketball ‘yung pupuntuhan ko doon eh," Oczon told GMA News Online in an interview last Sunday.

"Of course I’m very excited to meet my fellow Filipinos doon. Gusto ko rin matuto and I’m excited for this experience."

[I'm excited for the style of play. Basketball is what I'm going there for. Of course, I'm very excited to meet me fellow Filipinos there. I want to learn and I'm excited for this experience.]

Oczon will get to reunite with Dave Ildefonso, who was his former teammate at National University back in UAAP Season 82.

This time, though, the two will be on the opposite sides of the court as Ildefonso is currently suiting up for Suwon KT Sonicboom.

Aside from his old teammate, the 6-foot sniper will also get to meet some old foes in Korea.

Rhenz Abando, SJ Belangel, and Juan Gomez de Liaño, all of whom faced Oczon in the UAAP, are also plying their trade in the Korean league as they reinforce Anyang, Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, and Seoul SK Knights, respectively. 

They all last played against each other in 2019 when Abando was suiting up for University of Santo Tomas while Belangel and Gomez de Liaño played for Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines, respectively.

Oczon will also play opposite another former Benilde Blazers standout in Justine Gutang, who is seeing action with the Changwon LG Sakers. Gutang last played for the Taft team in Season 95, leading the squad with a team-high 11.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. 

"I have some friends there, si Dave, I’ve been friends with him. Si Justine Gutang, he’s a former CSB player. I hope I’m gonna be at home there."

But besides these, all Oczon could think about is how he will use this rare opportunity to improve on his personal skills, which he said was his top priority in making the hard decision of leaving Benilde. 

"Inisip ko lang what’s best for my career kasi at the end of the day, that’s what we all want. Nag-consult ako kay Coach Charles (Tiu) and other coaches as well as my family," he added.

"It’s been a hard decision but I’m excited to take these next steps sa journey ko and I’m very grateful."

[I just thought of what's best for my career because at the end of the day, that's what we all want. I consulted with Coach Charles and other coaches as well as my family. It's been a hard decision but I'm excited to take these next steps in my journey and I'm very grateful.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News