Will Allen Gozum (born April 8, 1999) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Quezon Huskers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
| No. 15 – Quezon Huskers | |
|---|---|
| League | MPBL |
| Personal information | |
| Born | April 8, 1999 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | UP (2018–2020) St. Benilde (2020–2023) |
| Career history | |
| 2021 | Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards |
| 2023 | Pampanga Royce |
| 2023–present | Quezon Huskers / Titans |
| Career highlights and awards | |
After earning MVP honors for the Malayan Red Robins in the juniors tournament of NCAA Season 93 in 2017, Gozum committed to the play for the UP Fighting Maroons in 2018. In 2020, he left UP and joined the Benilde Blazers, where he would win MVP honors in NCAA Season 98 after leading Benilde to the finals.
Gozum had his first professional stint in 2021 with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) during the 2021 MPBL Invitational. In 2023, he joined the expansion Quezon Huskers.
High school and college career
editGozum first played his high school career with the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons before moving to the Malayan Red Robins in 2016, where he won a championship with the team in NCAA Season 92.[1] In the following Season 93 in 2017, he won the Most Valuable Player award after leading his team to the finals,[2] where they lost to the La Salle Green Hills Greenies.
On February 2, 2018, Gozum announced his commitment to the UP Fighting Maroons beginning with UAAP Season 81,[3] but did not get much playing time in his return to UP. On January 12, 2020, Gozum left UP.[4] Later that month on January 23, 2020, he returned to the NCAA, this time with the Benilde Blazers, and would be eligible beginning NCAA Season 97. In Season 98, he would lead Benilde to their first finals appearance since Season 78 in 2002 on his way to earning the Most Valuable Player award.[5] In 2023, Gozum would play his final season with Benilde in NCAA Season 99,[6] although he was left undecided prior to it after sustaining an injury during practice.[7]
Professional career
editNueva Ecija Rice Vanguards (2021)
editBefore his debut with the Benilde Blazers, Gozum was part of the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League for the 2021 MPBL Invitational. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds for the eventual runners-up.[8]
Pampanga Royce (2023)
editGozum had a short stint with the Pampanga Royce of the Pilipinas Super League, averaging 7.3 points in nine games throughout the season.
Quezon Huskers (2023–present)
editIn 2023, Gozum returned to the MPBL, this time with the expansion Quezon Huskers.[9] In four games during the 2023 season, Gozum averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds. After the end of his college career, Gozum returned to the Quezon franchise as a full-time player as they entered the President's Cup of the Pilipinas Super League (PSL). He would go on to win his first professional championship following Quezon's triumph over his former team, Nueva Ecija, in the finals.[10]
On May 25, 2024, during a game against the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, Will suffered a major left knee injury after a steal during the fourth quarter of the game. Four days later on May 29, Quezon announced that he would miss the rest of the 2024 MPBL season.[11][12]
National team career
editGozum was part of the Philippines men's national under-17 basketball team that competed in the 2015 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship.
Career statistics
edit| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
MPBL
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Quezon | 4 | 1 | 20.5 | .464 | .333 | .800 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 10.0 |
| 2024 | Quezon | 8 | 3 | 16.9 | .473 | .200 | .706 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 8.3 |
References
edit- ^ Terrado, Reuben (October 3, 2016). "Will Gozum transfer from UPIS to Mapua a blessing in disguise as Red Robins reach finals". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (November 10, 2017). "Mapua's Will Gozum wins Most Valuable Player title of NCAA 93 juniors tournament". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Isaga, JR (February 2, 2018). "NCAA Jrs. MVP Will Gozum commits to UP Fighting Maroons". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (January 12, 2020). "Former NCAA Jrs MVP Will Gozum leaves UP after two seasons with Maroons". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Fuertes Jr., Rommel (December 11, 2022). "NCAA: St. Benilde star Will Gozum wins Season 98 MVP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Carandang, Justin Kenneth (June 12, 2023). "Will Gozum to return for final year with Benilde, eyes NCAA championship | NCAA Philippines". NCAA. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Micaller, Bea (May 22, 2023). "Injured Will Gozum still undecided about NCAA Season 99 return, says Benilde coach Charles Tiu | NCAA Philippines". NCAA. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Will Gozum makes up for lost time with Nueva Ecija". Tiebreaker Times. December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Li, Matthew (February 26, 2023). "Will Gozum to join MPBL's Quezon after stint with PSL's Pampanga Royce". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Titans kinopo ang PSL crown" [Titans take PSL crown]. Philstar.com (in Tagalog). April 17, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Terrado, Reuben (May 29, 2024). "Will Gozum out for MPBL season due to 'major left knee injury'". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Will Gozum out for Quezon after suffering season-ending knee injury". GMA News Online. May 31, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.