Fil-Am wins MVP award in Korea

Fil-Am Ethan Alvano is first non-Korean to win KBL MVP award

Story by John Mark Garcia
Spin.ph
02 April 2024

FILIPINO-American ace guard Ethan Alvano made history as the first Asian import and non-Korean player to win domestic MVP honors in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

The 27-year-old California native made the most of his sophomore stint in the KBL, having played all 54 regular season games with standout averages of 15.9 points on 40.9 percent three-point shooting, 6.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Through his commanding exploits on offense, DB Promy clinched the top seed entering the postseason with a 41-13 (win-loss) card alongside his American cohort and newly-minted KBL foreign MVP Dedric Lawson.

Apart from his top-flight stints with German club Eisbaren Bremerhaven and Thai club Hi-Tech Bangkok City, Alvano suited up for Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) and picked up valuable minutes as a starter in the 2018-19 campaign under then-head coach Jimmy Alapag.

His Alab stint saw him drop 7.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds before taking his talents to the KBL in 2022 — the fourth Filipino player to do so.

Alvano joins another top-caliber guard in RJ Abarrientos in the KBL's circle of award-wininng Filipino stars after the now-Japan-based playmaker won Rookie of the Year honors in his one-and-done Korea stint last season.