RK Ilagan explained

Team:Blackwater Bossing
League:PBA
Number:0
Nationality:Filipino
Birth Date:3 April 1997
Birth Place:Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Height Ft:5
Height In:7
Weight Lb:150
Position:Point guard
High School:San Sebastian (Manila)
College:San Sebastian
Draft Year Pba:2020
Draft Round Pba:3
Draft Pick Pba:31st overall
Draft Team Pba:Alaska Aces
Career Start:2021
Years1:2021–2022
Team1:Alaska Aces
Years2:2022
Team2:Converge FiberXers
Years3:2023–present
Team3:Blackwater Bossing

Regille Kent Ilagan (born April 3, 1997) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played college basketball for the San Sebastian Stags, where he gained a reputation as one of the best amateur shooters in the country.[1] In the PBA, he is known as a clutch scorer.

Early life and high school career

Ilagan was born in Manila, and raised in Bulacan until Grade 5, when he went back to Manila when his parents gave in to his desire to play varsity basketball.[2]

Ilagan first tried out for the high school team of San Sebastian.[3] After failing to crack that lineup, he tried out for the NU Bullpups, but that didn't work out either. After participating in the Junior NBA program did he finally get to play for the San Sebastian Staglets.

In Season 90, Ilagan had 22 points against the San Beda Red Cubs.[4] He stayed with the Staglets for two years before moving up to the Stags' Team B.

College career

Ilagan first played for the San Sebastian Stags in NCAA Season 92.[5] In both of their matchups against the Arellano Chiefs, he helped the Stags rally but fell short both times as Arellano won their matchups.[6] [7] In the 3-Point Shootout during All-Star festivities, he made it to the final round before losing to San Beda's AC Soberano.[8] After the break, the Stags went on a four-game winning streak, with him hitting seven three pointers for 25 points against the Lyceum Pirates in their fourth straight win.[9] Their streak was broken in a loss to the Letran Knights, in which he only scored one point.[10] San Sebastian finished with a record of 8–10, not making it to the Final Four.[11]

In Season 93, after their opening loss to San Beda, Ilagan contributed nine points and seven rebounds in a win over Arellano.[12] He lost once again in the 3-Point Shootout, this time to Mapua's Almel Olquina.[13] With a shot for a Final Four spot on the line, he had 23 points and five rebounds in a blowout win over the Perpetual Altas.[14] [15] His performance trended on Twitter. His teammates Michael Calisaan and Ryan Costelo then scored big in the fourth-seed playoff against Letran to officially make the Final Four for the first time since Season 89.[16] In the first round, they faced the JRU Heavy Bombers.[17] He then unloaded 21 points with five three-pointers against them to move on to the next round. There, their season ended in a loss to the San Beda Red Lions.[18]

In Season 94, Ilagan became one of the veterans of the team, and expectations were that they would contend for the championship that season.[19] [20] He had 18 points and four assists against Lyceum, but he fouled out with a technical foul, costing San Sebastian the win. He then got injured in a loss against Arellano with a cut over his right eye, but was still able to finish the game.[21] With his team already struggling, he was then investigated for playing in a "ligang labas".[22] As a result, San Sebastian College suspended him for the rest of the first elimination round.[23] The NCAA also forfeited the Stags' two wins in the first round in which he played in, which sank them to the bottom of the standings.[24] He apologized to his team, and returned with 13 points in a loss to Lyceum.[25] The Stags got a win in a match against the EAC Generals, with him leading the team with 13 points.[26] He then got a career-high 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting with six triples in a blowout win over the Mapúa Cardinals.[27] The Stags then ended their season with a big win over Arellano.[28]

Once again, the Stags were heavy favorites for Season 95. They opened the season with a 31-point blowout victory over JRU, with him leading the team with 25 points built on five treys, to go with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals.[29] Against Mapúa, they scored 30 points in the 2nd quarter for their second straight victory.[30] He scored 20 points, eight assists and four rebounds in that win. However, he was shut down by Lyceum's defense as he was held to 0 points, the first time in his college career.[31] He then scored 22 points and made seven assists in a close win over Letran.[32] Against Arellano he scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as his team went on to get the win.[33] The Stags qualified for the semis once again, where they faced Letran.[34] In that game, he had cramps for majority of the second half, but he fought through it and led a rally from 17 points down to just a one-point deficit.[35] His efforts weren't good enough, as Letran beat them and moved on to the next round. At the end of the game, he had finished with a career-high 36 points (with 13 of them in the fourth quarter) on 7-of-13 shooting from three while also collecting six rebounds and three assists. He finished his season with averages of nearly 16 points a game on 32 percent shooting from the three-point area, four rebounds and four assists per game.[36] He also got to play in that year's All-Star Game.[37]

Before the start of Season 96, Ilagan was set to lead San Sebastian once again.[38] However, those plans were derailed when he decided to forgo his final year in the NCAA.

Professional career

Alaska Aces (2021–2022)

Ilagan then confirmed that he would be entering the PBA Season 46 draft.[39] He came in as one of the shortest players in that year's draft.[40] Before the draft, he worked out with Rain or Shine and Alaska. He was projected to be a second round pick.[41] However, he found himself slipping to the third round until the Alaska Aces drafted him. Alaska drafted him as the "pure point guard" of the team.[42] He was signed to a one-year contract.[43]

Ilagan made his PBA debut against the Blackwater Bossing, in which he had eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field including two threes in just under two minutes.[44] Days later, he pulled his hamstring, causing him to be out.[45] He returned in a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors.[46] In the Governors' Cup, he earned more of Coach Jeffrey Cariaso's trust.[47] He scored a PBA career-high 11 points in a win against the Meralco Bolts with his last points being a game-winning buzzer-beating mid-range shot. He led the team with a PBA career-high 14 points in a loss to the Magnolia Hotshots.[48]

Converge FiberXers (2022)

Before the start of the 2022–23 PBA season, Ilagan re-signed with the Converge FiberXers, the franchise that had acquired Alaska, on another one-year deal.[49] Against Magnolia, he made a triple that sent the game into overtime and capped a comeback from 20 points down.[50] Converge was able to get its first win in overtime, and he finished the game with 14 points, four rebounds, and two steals. The next game, against the TNT Tropang Giga, he didn't make any shots until the final 22 seconds of the game, which gave his side an 83–82 lead.[51] On his team's next possession, he had the chance to make it a three-point lead with two free throws, but he missed both shots.[52] TNT guard Jayson Castro was able to win the game for his side on a layup over Ilagan, and Converge sealed their fate by turning it over. Afterwards, Castro consoled him and told him not to lose confidence. In a win against NLEX, he had a career-high 10 assists.[53] He then led Converge to its 2nd straight win a new PBA career-high of 20 points against the NorthPort Batang Pier.[54] They qualified for the Philippine Cup playoffs, where they were eliminated by TNT in the first round.[55] He broke his PBA career-high once again with 22 points in a win over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters during the PBA Commissioner's Cup.[56]

Blackwater Bossing (2023–present)

On January 3, 2023, Ilagan, along with Michael DiGregorio and Tyrus Hill, was traded to the Blackwater Bossing for Barkley Eboña and a 2022 first-round pick.[57] During the 2023 PBA All-Star Weekend, he competed in both the Three-Point Shootout and in the Team Greats vs. Team Stalwarts game.[58] [59]

In a 2024 Philippine Cup win over TNT, Ilagan stepped up for an injured Rey Nambatac and had a near triple-double with 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds off the bench.[60] He then had 12 points in a win over his former team Converge. With the win, Blackwater started 3–0 and on top of the standings for a brief while.[61] The team then lost five straight and failed to make the playoffs.[62]

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2023–24 season[63]

Season-by-season averages

|-| align=left | | align=left | Alaska| 14 || 12.7 || .327 || .172 || .882 || 2.4 || 1.9 || .5 || || 3.9|-| align=left rowspan=2| | align=left | Converge| rowspan=2|37 || rowspan=2|17.4 || rowspan=2|.379 || rowspan=2|.357 || rowspan=2|.867 || rowspan=2|2.3 || rowspan=2|3.2 || rowspan=2|.7 || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|8.5|-| align=left | Blackwater|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 20 || 19.1 || .419 || .322 || .875 || 3.1 || 3.1 || .9 || .2 || 8.7|-class=sortbottom| align="center" colspan=2 | Career| 71 || 17.0 || .386 || .329 || .872 || 2.5 || 2.9 || .7 || .0 || 7.6

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: January 12, 2021 . RK Ilagan, another Tondo boy, seeks to make his mark in the PBA . August 10, 2022 . pba.ph . en.
  2. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . December 5, 2022 . How Tondo toughened RK Ilagan to become clutch PBA scorer . December 6, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  3. Web site: Dioquino . Delfin . March 20, 2021 . RK Ilagan still filled with joy despite sliding in PBA Draft . August 10, 2022 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  4. Web site: August 6, 2014 . Staglets beat Cubs, end losing streak . August 10, 2022 . San Sebastian College Official Website . en-US.
  5. Web site: Flores . Joaqui . June 22, 2016 . San Sebastian Stags: NCAA Season 92 Starter Pack . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  6. Web site: Jalalon almost matches triple–double, fuels Arellano to 2–0 start . August 10, 2022 . www.arellano.edu.ph.
  7. Web site: Li . Matthew . August 16, 2016 . Stags fail to rebound in the clutch as Chiefs extend streak to five . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  8. Web site: Li . Matthew . August 12, 2016 . Soberano is this year's three-point king . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  9. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . August 30, 2016 . RK Ilagan hits seven triples as Stags down Pirates for fourth straight victory . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  10. Web site: Ballesteros . Jan . September 2, 2016 . Letran cruises past San Sebastian as surging Knights snap Stags' four-game win streak . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  11. Web site: Ballesteros . Jan . September 22, 2016 . Stags end NCAA 92 campaign with 27-point rout of Bombers in match of also-rans . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  12. Web site: Jacinto . July 13, 2017 . RK Ilagan, Lorenzo Navarro shine as Stags score huge victory at Chiefs' home gym . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  13. Web site: Li . Matthew . September 1, 2017 . 'Feverish' Almel Olquina dethrones AC Soberano in three-point shootout . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  14. Web site: Villar . Joey . October 19, 2017 . Home are mighty Pirates . August 10, 2022 . Philstar.com.
  15. Web site: ABS-CBN Sports on Twitter: "RK Ilagan finishes with 23 points and 5 rebounds" . August 10, 2022 . Twitter . en.
  16. Web site: Li . Matthew . October 24, 2017 . Michael Calisaan's career-high tows San Sebastian to showdown with JRU . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  17. Web site: October 27, 2017 . Surging Stags defuse Heavy Bombers to advance in NCAA stepladder semis vs Red Lions . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  18. Web site: Naredo . Camille B. . November 9, 2017 . NCAA: San Sebastian coach Macaraya sees golden future for Stags . August 10, 2022 . ABS-CBN News.
  19. Web site: July 7, 2018 . RK Ilagan has hot hand - and temper - as Stags waste upset bid . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  20. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . July 1, 2019 . With ligang-labas controversy behind, Stags eager to live up to expectations . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  21. Web site: Double whammy as RK Ilagan sustains bloody cut in Stags loss . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  22. Web site: Li . Matthew . August 3, 2018 . RK Ilagan, Koy Galvelo being investigated after allegedly playing in 'ligang labas' . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  23. Web site: Isaga . JR . August 7, 2018 . San Sebastian suspends RK Ilagan for rest of NCAA 1st round . August 10, 2022 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  24. Web site: Jacinto . Christian . August 16, 2018 . Stags' two wins forfeited over Ilagan 'ligang-labas' violation . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  25. Web site: Jacinto . Christian . September 5, 2018 . Ilagan apologizes to Stags teammates, vows to atone for 'ligang labas' mess . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  26. Web site: Jacinto . Christian . September 7, 2018 . Ilagan back with a bang as San Sebastian rolls past EAC to get back on track . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  27. Web site: Li . Matthew . October 12, 2018 . RK Ilagan continues to make amends to Baste, sets career-high against Mapua . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  28. Web site: Bandayrel . Rafael . October 24, 2018 . SSC ends campaign with rout of Arellano . August 10, 2022 . Tempo - The Nation's Fastest Growing Newspaper . en-US.
  29. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . July 9, 2019 . RK Ilagan on fire as SSC Stags debut with 31-point beating of JRU . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  30. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . July 16, 2019 . Stags ride 30-point second quarter to rout of Cardinals for second straight win . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  31. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . July 23, 2019 . RK Ilagan takes blame as Stags go-to guy held scoreless in loss to Lyceum . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  32. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . August 20, 2019 . Villapando layup in closing moments of OT lifts San Sebastian past Letran . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  33. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . October 15, 2019 . San Sebastian closes in on Final Four spot with victory over Arellano . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  34. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . November 4, 2019 . Stopping Bulanadi and Ilagan main goal for Letran, says Bonnie Tan . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  35. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . November 5, 2019 . RK Ilagan overcomes cramps to put on offensive show for Stags in losing effort . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  36. Web site: Giongco . Mark . January 13, 2021 . Proud Tondo boy RK Ilagan determined to reach PBA dream . August 10, 2022 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  37. Web site: Agcaoili . Lance . November 26, 2019 . Letran, San Beda stars set aside rivalry as Saints stun Heroes in All-Star Game . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  38. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . August 3, 2020 . RK Ilagan ready to take charge for San Sebastian, out for revenge against Letran . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  39. Web site: Villanueva . Eros . January 7, 2021 . SSC's RK Ilagan to skip final year, join PBA draft . August 10, 2022 . ESPN.com . en.
  40. Web site: Leongson . Randolph B. . January 28, 2021 . The 2021 PBA Draft's oldest, youngest, tallest, and shortest players . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  41. Web site: Araneta . Chuck . Pamintuan . Carlo . Sarmenta . Yoyo . March 12, 2021 . PBA mock draft: Latest predictions for first two rounds . August 10, 2022 . ESPN.com . en.
  42. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . March 17, 2021 . Cariaso explains why Ben Adamos was Alaska's top draft target . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  43. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . June 4, 2021 . Alaska signs late draft picks Alec Stockton, RK Ilagan . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  44. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . July 17, 2021 . RK Ilagan's Alaska debut, however brief, didn't go unnoticed . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  45. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . July 21, 2021 . Alaska rookie RK Ilagan out for a month with hamstring injury . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  46. Web site: Mendoza . Martin . September 2, 2021 . Ravena-less NLEX holds off Alaska for 2nd straight win . August 10, 2022 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  47. Web site: Lozada . Bong . February 26, 2022 . PBA: RK Ilagan hits buzzer-beater as Alaska beats Meralco . August 10, 2022 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  48. Web site: Bacnis . Justine . March 6, 2022 . PBA: Mike Harris haunts ex-team Alaska as Magnolia spoils Thoss' celebration . August 10, 2022 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  49. Web site: Ramos . Gerry . May 2, 2022 . Stockton, Ilagan latest ex-Alaska players to sign with Converge . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  50. Web site: Dalupang . Denison Rey A. . June 11, 2022 . PBA: RK Ilagan repays gamble for Converge . August 10, 2022 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  51. Web site: Ramos . Gerry . June 12, 2022 . RK Ilagan inconsolable after blown free throws let TNT off the hook . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  52. Web site: Ramos . Gerry . June 12, 2022 . Jayson Castro consoles RK Ilagan with words of wisdom . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  53. Web site: July 7, 2022 . Murrell leads Converge to crucial win against NLEX . August 10, 2022 . www.pba.ph . en.
  54. Web site: Ramos . Gerry . July 9, 2022 . RK Ilagan stands tallest as Converge holds off NorthPort to start streak . August 10, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  55. Web site: MICALLER . BEA . July 27, 2022 . Mikey Williams' offense too much for Converge as TNT advances to semis . August 10, 2022 . GMA News Online . en.
  56. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . November 11, 2022 . Converge extends win run to six after cooling down Phoenix in shootout . November 9, 2022 . Spin.ph . en.
  57. Web site: Li . Matthew . January 3, 2023 . Converge trades DiGregorio, Ilagan, Hill to Blackwater for Ebona, 2023 pick . January 3, 2023 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  58. Web site: Bacnis . Justine . 2023-03-10 . PBA: Paul Lee torches Marcio, Juami in 3-point final . 2023-03-10 . Tiebreaker Times . en-US.
  59. Web site: Tan . Stewart . March 10, 2023 . Adrian Wong stars as Team Greats edges Team Stalwarts in PBA All-Star RSJ Game . March 10, 2023 . dugout.ph.
  60. Web site: Villanueva . Ralph Edwin . March 3, 2024 . Blackwater's Ilagan steps up for injury-hampered Nambatac . June 1, 2024 . Philstar.com.
  61. Web site: Terrado . Reuben . March 6, 2024 . Blackwater leads by 35 before cruising to win No. 3 vs Converge . June 1, 2024 . Spin.ph . en.
  62. Web site: Sayson . Homer . April 24, 2024 . COLUMN: Jeff Cariaso opens up about Blackwater collapse . 2024-06-01 . Spin.ph . en.
  63. Web site: Regile Ilagan Player Profile, Blackwater Bossing - RealGM . basketball.realgm.com.