With more avenues opening up for Filipino basketball players to take their talents overseas, A.J. Edu believes the B.League should be high on the list for those looking to develop their game.
Seven Filipinos are currently playing in Japan’s top division, including Edu, while four more are set to compete in the B.League’s second division.
“To any of those players who are aspiring to play in the B.League, I definitely vouch for that and recommend it, for sure,” said Edu.
Japan’s professional league was among the first overseas competitions to welcome Filipinos as Asian imports, most notably with Thirdy Ravena’s arrival at the San-En NeoPhoenix in 2020.
For Edu, playing in Japan has provided him with new challenges and valuable lessons that future Filipino talents can eventually bring back home.
“I definitely recommend it, just in terms of a player. You get to experience a high level of basketball with multiple imports. It’s been really good for me in terms of my development,” he added.
The impact of the Japanese league on Philippine basketball was on full display during the historic staging of the B.League Manila Games 2026, with Edu and fellow Filipino import Dwight Ramos headlining the two-day preseason showcase.
Their respective teams, Gunma Crane Thunders and Levanga Hokkaido, faced off in back-to-back preseason games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 9 and 10.
Edu and the Crane Thunders swept the two-game series, capping the showcase with a thrilling 101-91 overtime victory on Thursday.
After being limited to three points in the opening game, the 6-foot-10 big man bounced back with an efficient all-around performance in the finale, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
The 26-year-old Fil-Brit’s versatility has also drawn praise from his teammates and coaches, including former NBA player Stanley Johnson.
“I think he adds a lot of size to our lineup. He impacts our team with hustle plays. I’m excited to play with him as much as anyone else on our team,” said Johnson, who scored 17 points for Gunma on Thursday.
Head coach Kyle Milling also pointed to another aspect of Edu’s game that continues to develop.
“Everyone talks about his shot blocking and his rebounding, but his passing is something that he’s really improving on as time goes by,” Milling added.
Despite the individual praise, Edu said the Manila Games meant even more because he was able to play in front of his home crowd, addressing the Filipino fans in Tagalog after the game.
The two-day exhibition held special significance for the former Toledo Rocket, whose mother and family were in attendance at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Edu was likewise grateful that his Crane Thunders teammates and coaches were able to experience the passion of Filipino basketball fans firsthand.
“It’s great that they also get to experience a taste of it. This is not quite like Gilas games, but I always talk about the passion of Filipino fans, so I’m grateful that my team also got to experience this firsthand.”
