Amos, Pre Draw Overseas Interest; KCC Remains Team to Watch

Two of the UAAP’s most intriguing frontcourt talents are attracting attention overseas, as a source with knowledge of international recruitment told me that De La Salle University forward Mason Amos and University of the Philippines standout Veejay Pre have generated interest from teams in South Korea’s Korean Basketball League and Japan’s B.League.

The interest remains exploratory. The identities of the interested teams have not been fully established.

One KBL club, however, stands out as a logical team to monitor: defending champion Busan KCC Egis.

Why KCC enters the picture

As of August 22, a review of publicly announced signings found KCC to be the only KBL team without a confirmed Asian-quota player for the 2026–27 season.

That vacancy followed KCC’s decision not to renew William Navarro, its Filipino Asian-quota player from last season. The other nine teams have either retained their existing Asian player or announced a new signing.

KCC’s open slot does not establish that the club has selected Amos or Pre or even that it is one of the teams currently expressing interest. 

It does, however, make the reigning champions the most obvious open roster destination in the KBL.

Sources said that representatives from KCC could travel to the Philippines during the collegiate season to evaluate Amos and Pre in person. No such scouting trip has been publicly announced, and the possibility should be viewed as preliminary.

KCC has already had some recent exposure to Philippine collegiate basketball, as they recently had a closed scrimmage against UP in Yongin on August 18, with KCC subsequently posting video from the game. 

Another source familiar with KCC’s roster considerations said the club could prioritize a player capable of handling minutes at the four position.

KCC’s current roster lends some support to that assessment. 

Song Kyo-chang, a former KBL MVP, signed with Osaka Evessa for the coming B.League season. Choi Jun-yong, another versatile forward central to KCC’s championship runs, has announced his intention to pursue opportunities in the United States. A KCC official said in July that Choi was expected to be placed on the voluntary withdrawal list.

KCC retained productive center Shawn Long and still possesses one of the league’s strongest backcourts behind brothers Heo Hoon and Heo Ung. The departures of Song and Choi, however, created a shortage of proven size, versatility, and shooting at forward.

That is where the profiles of Amos, Pre and even Navarro become relevant.

Amos enters his final UAAP season

At 6-foot-7, Amos has long been viewed as one of the Philippines’ most natural stretch forwards. His ability to pull opposing big men away from the basket, operate in pick-and-pop situations, and make shots beyond the arc gives him a skill set that translates easily to leagues in Korea and Japan.

Amos has also previously stated that part of his development at La Salle involved becoming more of a wing rather than being limited to a traditional big-man role.

He helped La Salle win the UAAP Season 88 championship after returning from a Grade 2 MCL injury, contributing 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three blocks in the title-clinching game against UP. 

During the 2026 preseason, he continued to demonstrate his shooting value, including a game-winning three against UST in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, and displaying improved post and perimeter defense.

Amos also has senior national-team experience. He was part of the Gilas Pilipinas side that won gold at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games and joined the national team for the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The timing of any overseas opportunity is especially important in his case. After playing one season for Ateneo, serving residency and then debuting for La Salle in Season 88, Amos is entering his final UAAP season. 

Pre offers a different kind of forward

Pre, meanwhile, projects as a more nimble and mobile combo forward.

The 6-foot-5 Pampanga native won UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year with FEU after averaging 13.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 14 elimination-round games. He subsequently transferred to UP and sat out Season 88 to complete his residency.

Pre has been one of UP’s most productive players throughout the 2026 preseason. He opened the Filoil tournament with 17 points against UST and followed that with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists against NU.

His rebounding, physicality, ability to attack closeouts, and capacity to defend different types of forwards make him a potential fit for an Asian-quota role. While Amos provides more proven shooting at the four, Pre offers more downhill force.

Unlike Amos, Pre enters Season 89 with two playing years available.

That gives Pre additional flexibility, although accepting a professional contract overseas would require him to leave his remaining collegiate eligibility behind.

Could William Navarro return?

KCC could also consider a familiar option.

Another source told me that there is some interest in the possibility of bringing Navarro back to Busan. Talks, however, have not reached an advanced stage, and there is no agreement in place.

Navarro appeared in 42 regular-season games for KCC last season, averaging 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 13 minutes per contest. 

His role diminished during parts of the playoffs, but he finished the season as a member of the first sixth-seeded team in KBL history to win the championship.

KCC ultimately elected not to renew his contract.

Navarro recently played for Strong Group Athletics in the William Jones Cup. His immediate PBA future also remains unresolved. The PBA imposed a three-year suspension after he rejected an offer from Magnolia and joined KCC, while his PBA rights have since been traded to Titan Ultra.

Navarro recently confirmed that he has requested a reduction of the suspension and is waiting for the PBA’s decision. As of this writing, he has not received clearance to return.

A reunion with KCC would give the club a player already familiar with its system, coaching staff and championship core. For now, however, this is theoretical.

A champion facing another transition

KCC has become accustomed to dramatic postseason runs.

The club won the 2023–24 championship after becoming the first fifth seed to capture the KBL title. After missing the playoffs the following season, KCC returned to the top in 2025–26, defeating Goyang Sono in five games and becoming the first sixth-seeded champion in league history.

It was KCC’s seventh championship overall, drawing the club level with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis for the most in KBL history.

Its next roster decision could therefore involve balancing immediate championship needs against longer-term upside.