‘JAPAN EXODUS’: PBA top pick Roosevelt Adams heads to Kagawa Five Arrows

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) no.1 overall pick during the 2019 Rookie draft will be suiting up in the Japan B. League after signing with the Kagawa Five Arrows.

Roosevelt Adams, the former Terrafirma Dyip swingman and a part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool, made his transfer to Japan official after Kagawa’s announcement yesterday.

The six-foot-five Filipino-American hinted at his career move after opting not to re-sign with Terrafirma five games into the 2022 Governor’s Cup.

After putting himself into the PBA free agency and no team expressed desire in landing him, Adams tested the waters overseas and will play for Kagawa effective this season.

Adams only played a total of 22 games under the Terrafirma franchise and failed to help the team reach the playoffs since getting drafted.

During the 2020 Philippine Cup, Adams averaged 10.33 points and improved a year after when he raised his scoring average to 11.22 points per game.

Adams spent his time as a member of the Gilas men’s national basketball team after going inactive in the PBA and was a part of the two most recent windows against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

The forward was cut during the Lebanon game and debuted as a member of Gilas against Saudi Arabia where they won convincingly, 84-46.

Adams will be joining the pack of Filipino superstars playing under the Asian player quota signified by the B. League committee.

Already in Japan are Kiefer & Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kobe Paras, Jordan Heading, Jay Washington, and Greg Slaughter.