 |
| Ethan Alvano (#17). Photo from KBL/DB Promy/Jumpball |
by Drew Malihan
MANILA - For the first time in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) history, an Asian import player was crowned the best player in the land of the morning calm.
Ethan Alvano's stellar 2023-24 league campaign with Wonju DB Promy is enough as he captured the league's domestic most valuable player award this Monday.
The Fil-Am guard, who was in his second season in South Korea, averaged 15.9 points, 3..0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 40.6 percent from three.
He has saw action in all 54 regular season games and also tied in the top spot for assists while being 11th league-wide in points per game
Alvano led the Wonju-based club to a league-best 41-13 record, alongside 2023-24 Foreign MVP awardee Dedric Lawson.
Joining the duo in the KBL's best five were teammate Kang Sang-jae, Lee Jung-hyun of Seoul Samsung Thunders, and Paris Bass of Suwon kt SonicBoom.
He joins RJ Abarrientos as the only Asian imports to receive a KBL award, with the latter winning last season's Rookie of the Year with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
Alvano and the rest of Wonju will receive a bye to the semifinals of the league playoffs, their first post-season appearance since their last run in the 2017-18 season.
The men in green will try to redeem themselves after their last playoff run where they were defeated by eventual champions Seoul SK Knights, 4-2.
Follow him on X: @drew_corner
.jpg)
