A forced turnover. A bounce pass. A fast break slam dunk! And the crowd goes wild!

This described the first slam dunk I witnessed, then LG Sakers guard Justin Gutang made back in early February 2024. But for the fans in Changwon, South Korea, it was a play that they have grown accustomed to seeing the last two seasons from the 6 feet 4 Asian import from the Philippines.

Gutang, the Spiderman of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) with his speed, strength, and ability to leap high, is arguably one of the most explosive athletes to hit the South Korean professional basketball courts.

“I guess my greatest strength is being able to turn the tides through energetic plays,” Gutang said. “I am able to give life to the team when the team needs it.”

But after the Sakers were eliminated by Suwon KT Sonicboom in the semi-final round, Gutang was visibly upset and emotional after the game. He said he felt unsatisfied with his playoff performance and felt he let the team and organization down.

“You could say there was a lot of pressure with trying to exceed everyone’s expectations, but I never really cared about what anyone else thought except for our team,” Gutang said.

Gutang averaged 16.6 minutes, 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, and shot over 50% from the field in 58 games this past season. These statistics are a far cry and an improvement from his 2022-2023 season.

“I think I can improve a lot in being more consistent with my game and in my shooting,” Gutang said. “I struggle a lot in endurance towards the end of the game because of how explosive of a player I am.”

Gutang spent his off-season training in the Philippines, the country he now calls home. (He was born and raised in the United States). His day would begin at 6 a.m. (and 32° C temperatures) and with workout intervals throughout the day until 5 p.m. and also a power nap squeezed in between.

“I try to take really great care of my body through the help of trainers to prevent any injuries and to get stronger and faster every day,” Gutang said.

But in early June, LG decided to release Gutang.

“I was okay with their decision. At the end of the day, it’s just business. No hard feelings truly. They have to make decisions on what’s best for the team,” Gutang said. “I would’ve loved to stay and play with the same group of guys. However, at the end of the day, this is a professional sport. It’s hard not to mix feelings into business.”

Gutang expressed his gratitude to his former teammates. He shared that it was difficult coming to South Korea back in 2022 and be away from his family for almost a year.

“I was fortunate enough to have teammates look after me and take really great care of me,” Gutang said.

Gutang developed close relationships with all of his teammates, but the three that he was probably the closest to were Han Sanghyeok, Yang Hongseok, and Jeong Indeok.

When asked if communication was ever a challenge, Gutang said, “It was actually pretty easy communicating with them and joking around with them. They speak very good English.” He then mentioned Lee Gwanhee, Lee Jaedo, Lim Dong Seop, Yang Hongseok, Yang Junseok as players who can speak English well. “It’s not perfect, but it’s more than enough to be able to have conversations with them.”

And if he ever needed help at 2 a.m., who would answer his call?

“Probably Panda (Park Joon Hyoung) because everyone else would be asleep and Panda doesn’t sleep until 4am,” Gutang said with a laugh.

Gutang said he will also miss the fans he has come to know in Changwon. The chant of his last name became his favorite sound in the game. He was (and still is) a fan favorite.

“Gutang is always serious, honest, and kind,” LG Sakers fan Gaeun Kim said. “He has a character that does not exist in South Korea.”

Kim also shared how Gutang was an encouragement during the time when her mom passed.

“I watched him jump and jump powerfully on the basketball court. I thought I should try to live as hard as Gutang,” Kim continued. “I like people who work hard. I think that if he continues to be good at basketball like he is now, he will become more and more popular.”

The fan culture in South Korea is also something that stood out for Gutang. He has never received gifts from fans before, and to be able to experience it first hand was heartwarming for him.

“The one gift that I received that will always stand out from the rest is when a group of my fans came together to rent a coffee truck for my team and me in my name,” Gutang said. “To be the first import to receive a coffee truck blew my mind.”

And speaking of imports, what advice would Gutang give to first-timers and athletes wanting to play in the KBL?

“The only advice I would give to other players who aspire to play in the KBL is to adjust to the culture, embrace it, and respect the culture in South Korea,” Gutang said.”It will make your life a whole lot more fun.”

So what’s next for Gutang? Well, he will stay in the KBL and bring his energy to the Seoul Samsung Thunders for the 2024-2025 season. The Thunders finished last in the regular season, but with the addition of The Filipino Energizer, who knows where the team ends up.

What are his thoughts on facing his former LG teammates in the basketball court?

“I love them all and can’t wait to beat all of them,” Gutang playfully taunted in fun.