Adrian Wong (basketball)

John Adrian Abando Wong (born February 10, 1996) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for the Converge FiberXers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).[1][2] After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he moved to the Philippines to pursue his college and professional basketball career.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Abando and the surname or paternal family name is Wong.
Adrian Wong
No. 3 – Converge FiberXers
PositionShooting guard
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1996-02-10) February 10, 1996
Euless, Texas, U.S.
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolTrinity (Euless, Texas)
CollegeAteneo de Manila University (2015–2016, 2018–2019)
PBA draft2019: 1st round, 5th overall[lower-alpha 1]
Selected by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2022Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
2022–2023Magnolia Hotshots
2023–presentConverge FiberXers
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Wong was born in Euless, Texas to parents who were both Filipino nurses and grew up in Dallas.[3][4] He started playing basketball in the 2nd grade when his father signed him up for a basketball camp.

One year later, he played AAU basketball for the Net Raiders. After that team disbanded, he transferred to the Texas Select team.[4] He played for that team until his senior year.

He also played at Trinity High School, where he became teammates with future NBA leader in blocks Myles Turner.[4] In his senior year, he averaged 10.6 points per game and 4 assists.

At the end of his high school career, his family chose between Ateneo, La Salle, or staying in the States.[4] He ended up playing for Ateneo after his father emailed the coach at the time, Bo Perasol, about his son.[5]

College career

Wong moved to the Philippines with his older brother, Dan.[4] His Ateneo teammate Von Pessumal and former Blue Eagle Chris Newsome helped him adjust to life in the Philippines.

In Wong's UAAP debut in Season 78, he played 17 minutes.[4] He started the season playing as a shooting guard and had limited minutes. In the first game of the second round of eliminations, he had 14 points in a win over the FEU Tamaraws. After that performance, he moved over to the point guard position and became the main point guard off the bench. Against the De La Salle Green Archers, he and Aaron Black combined for 23 points off the bench.[6] In the Final Four, Ateneo faced FEU once again, this time as the 3rd seed. He had 17 points off the bench in that game, but missed a layup that would have given Ateneo the lead.[7] Instead, it set the stage for Mac Belo to make a buzzer-beating, game-winning putback, eliminating Ateneo and sending FEU to their second straight UAAP Finals.[8]

In Season 79, Wong had an increased role, but struggled.[4] He had 13 points in a win over FEU.[9] He then had 17 points against the UE Red Warriors, but did not finish the game due to foul trouble.[10] Still Ateneo made it to the Finals, where they lost to the Archers.[4]

In January 2017, Wong suffered a torn ACL injury that kept him out of Season 80.[11] Despite his absence, Ateneo was able to claim their first seniors basketball title in five years.

Wong was able to play again in 2018, as he joined Ateneo in competing at that year's Jones Cup.[12] The Eagles won the championship once again, this time over the UP Fighting Maroons.[13]

In Season 82, Wong had a career-high 18 points on 4-of-7 from three in a win over La Salle to help Ateneo secure a spot in the Final Four.[14] They had no losses that season, as Ateneo went on to win its third straight.[15] Although he had one more year of eligibility left, he decided not to use it, choosing to move on to the next chapter of his basketball career.[16]

Professional career

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2019–2022)

Wong was drafted 5th overall in the 2019 PBA Draft by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and was signed to a two-year deal.[17] During the suspension of the league due to COVID-19, he and Barangay Ginebra player Japeth Aguilar were caught on video playing pickup basketball, which was not allowed at the time.[18] As a result, they were fined P20,000 each, and were required to do 30 hours of community service.

His best game of the rookie season was in a win against the NorthPort Batang Pier, when he had 15 points.[19]

In the 2021 Philippine Cup, Wong hit a three-pointer in a 48–74 loss that prevented both teams for combining for the lowest scoring total in league history.[20] Rain or Shine bounced back the next game, as Wong had 15 points in the win against the Terrafirma Dyip.[21]

Magnolia Hotshots (2022–2023)

Wong became a free agent after his contract expired on January 30, 2022.[22] Rain or Shine decided not to renew his contract as well. A week later, he signed with the Magnolia Hotshots on a two-year deal.[23] In a blowout win against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, he tied his career high with 18 points, making six out of seven of his threes.[24]

During the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend, Wong competed in the Team Greats vs. Team Stalwarts game, where he helped Team Greats get the victory with his 29 points, and claimed MVP honors.[25]

Converge FiberXers (2023–present)

On April 14, 2023, Wong, along with a 2022 first-round pick, was traded to the Converge FiberXers for David Murrell and Abu Tratter.[26]

National team career

Wong played for Manila East in the 2014 World Tour Manila Masters.[27][28] The team only placed 8th in that tournament.[28]

PBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2022–23 season[29]

Season-by-season averages
Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020 Rain or Shine 1213.8.279.2951.000.9.7.3.04.6
2021 Rain or Shine 3115.1.412.379.5711.1.5.5.04.5
Magnolia
2022–23 Magnolia 4815.9.333.270.7101.3.8.3.13.6
Career 9115.4.350.313.7171.2.7.4.04.0

Notes
  1. The 2019 draft was composed of two drafts: the Gilas special draft, which consists of 5 players reserved for the Philippine national team, and the regular draft. Isaac Go was selected as the first pick in the Gilas special draft. Wong was selected as the fifth pick of the regular draft.

References
  1. "John Adrian Abando Wong Basketball Recruiting Profile". new.berecruited.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  2. Bacnis, Justine (February 7, 2022). "Adrian Wong signs two-year deal with Magnolia". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  3. "Adrian Wong – Basketball Recruiting – Player Profiles – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  4. Lovenia, Karlo (April 27, 2017). "A Chinese kid and his hoops dream from Texas to Manila: Adrian Wong's story – SLAMonline Philippines". Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  5. Riego, Norman Lee Benjamin (November 10, 2015). "YouTube was where Ateneo found Wong spreading his wings". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  6. Terrado, Reuben (November 8, 2015). "Ateneo completes comeback, deals blow to La Salle hopes of reaching UAAP Final Four". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  7. Terrado, Reuben (November 23, 2015). "Pogoy, Wong and the four things to take away from FEU win over Ateneo". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  8. Bracher, Jane (November 22, 2015). "Mac Belo: The selfless heartbreak kid". RAPPLER. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  9. Terrado, Reuben (September 14, 2016). "Ateneo gets back on track as Thirdy Ravena propels Blue Eagles past FEU Tamaraws". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  10. "Ateneo rebounds to keep UE winless". ABS-CBN News. September 24, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  11. Ganglani, Naveen (September 10, 2018). "Sidelined for a year, Ateneo's Adrian Wong eyes big comeback". RAPPLER. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  12. Marquez, CJ (July 23, 2018). "Ateneo Blue Eagles grateful to represent PH in Jones Cup".
  13. Manglinong, Dan (December 5, 2018). "Ateneo Blue Eagles win UAAP championship, UP Fighting Maroons win hearts". Interaksyon. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  14. Leongson, Randolph B. (October 13, 2019). "Ateneo completes sweep of La Salle to book UAAP Final Four ticket". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  15. Leongson, Randolph B. (November 21, 2019). "Baldwin glad to be proven Wong as Ateneo seniors bloom into champions". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  16. Reyes, Kate (November 20, 2019). "As Adrian Wong prepares to move on, Baldwin leaves him with encouraging words". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  17. Leongson, Randolph B. (January 18, 2020). "Rain or Shine signs Adrian Wong, Clint Doliguez to two-year contracts". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  18. Ramos, Gerry (July 11, 2020). "PBA players caught violating GCQ rules face stiffer penalties". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  19. Ramos, Gerry (October 18, 2020). "Rookie Adrian Wong gives RoS a glimpse of what to expect from him". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  20. Villanueva, Eros (July 28, 2021). "Alaska holds Rain or Shine to 48 points in rout". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  21. Murillo, Michael Angelo S. (August 1, 2021). "Rain or Shine comes back to beat Terrafirma, halts slide". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  22. Ramos, Gerry (January 31, 2022). "Adrian Wong now a free agent after Rain or Shine exit". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  23. Terrado, Reuben (February 7, 2022). "Adrian Wong, Magnolia agree to two-year contract". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  24. Terrado, Reuben (February 19, 2022). "Nothing going Wong as Magnolia grounds Phoenix to stay perfect". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  25. Tan, Stewart (March 10, 2023). "Adrian Wong stars as Team Greats edges Team Stalwarts in PBA All-Star RSJ Game". Dugout.ph. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  26. Ramos, Gerry (April 14, 2023). "Tratter, Murrell traded to Magnolia as Converge gets Wong, 1st-round pick". Spin.ph. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  27. "Canaleta, Abueva, other PBA stars join Jerie Pingoy, top amateurs in Fiba 3x3 Manila Masters". Spin.ph. July 17, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  28. "John Adrian Wong". play.fiba3x3.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  29. Real GM
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