Best players of South Korean KBL round 26 (by Hoops Agents)

- January 6, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Samjosef Belangel

Samjosef Belangel

Filipino Samjosef Belangel (177-G-1999) had an amazing evening in the last round for Daegu KoGas Pegasus and that's him to receive a Hoops Agents Player of the Week award for round 26.
The 26-year old guard had the game-high 32 points adding five rebounds and six assists for Daegu in his team's victory, helping them to edge out Mobis Phoebus (#9, 9-19) 79-77. The game was not the highest importance and did not have significant influence on top of the standings. Thanks to this victory Daegu moved-up to the 10th position in South Korean KBL. Daegu is bottom ranked team in the standings. They need more victories to leave last spot and improve bad 9-20 record. In the team's last game Belangel had a remarkable 90.0% from 2-point range. He has many years of experience at Daegu, through which he has constantly improved. Belangel has impressive league stats. He is in league's top in assists (8th best: 4.4apg) and averages solid 52.5% FGP.

The second most remarkable performance in last round's games was young Egyptian center Assem Marei (206-C-1992) of league's best team Changwon LG Sakers. Marei impressed basketball fans with a triple-double of 19 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists. Bad luck as Sakers was edged by the lower-ranked Suwon KT (#6, 15-14) 76-75. LG Sakers managed to keep the same 1st spot in the standings. His team has currently 20-8 record. Marei is a newcomer at LG Sakers and it seems he did not have too much trouble to become one of team's leaders.

The third best performed player last round was American Shawn Long (208-F-1993, agency: Pensack Sports) of Busan KCC Egis (#4). Long scored 21 points and grabbed 18 rebounds (!!!). Despite Long's great performance the Egis lost 68-76 to #2 ranked Anyang. But his team cannot count on just a single player as he also needs help of the other teammates especially in such crucial game. The last thing KCC Egis needs is to lose another game like this one. They lose more and more distance to the top teams. Their record is 16 victories and 12 lost games. Long has a great season in South Korea. After 28 games, he made it on the list of the league's leaders in points with 18.5ppg (8th best) and rebounds with 12.5rpg (2nd best).

Other top performing players last week:
4. Jameel Warney (203-C-1994) of Seoul Knights - 25 points and 10 rebounds
5. Johnny O'Bryant III (207-F/C-1993) of Anyang - 30 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists
6. Ricardo Ratliffe (203-F-1989) of Daegu - 16 points and 13 rebounds
7. Ethan Alvano (185-G-1996) of Wonju DB - 17 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists
8. Derrick Williams (203-F-1991) of Suwon KT - 21 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists
9. Henry Ellenson (208-C-1997) of Wonju DB - 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists
10. Hyo-Geun Jeong (200-F-1993) of Wonju DB - 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists

The Player of the week is selected based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)

The Player of the Week awards are presented by Hoops Agents. Hoops Agents is the most complete website about the agencies and players they represent. With more than twenty years of experience, Hoops Agents is already recognized as the most reliable destination for the players who wish to continue their career in professional basketball and are searching for a reputable and connected representation. Hoops Agents is also most complete source of transactions news.

Tags : SAMJOSEF BELANGEL, DAEGU KOGAS PEGASUS, SOUTH KOREAN BASKETBALL,