Daven Tamayo

Matthew Wright aims to make impact in B.League return

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQ5CzDcaAd0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>MANILA – Matthew Wright is eager to make his return to the Japanese B.League after nearly a year away.</p><p>Last month, Wright signed with the Saitama Broncos for the 2026-2027 season.</p><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Despite being away from basketball for months, Wright&#x27;s goals remain the same heading into a new season in Japan.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s the same expectations. I plan on going in and making an immediate impact with my team. I&#x27;ve been itching to play basketball, so I&#x27;m really excited to go back. This season is obviously going to mean a lot to me, taking that year off to deal with some family stuff I&#x27;m ready to go,&quot; Wright told ABS-CBN News last week.  </p><p>Before he make a comeback to Japan, the Filipino-Canadian guard will be suiting up for Strong Group-Pilipinas in the 45th William Jones Cup this week.  </p><p>Wright aims to regain his form ahead of the 2026-27 season in the B.League, since his last game was during the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in December.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m using this tournament as almost like a preseason. I&#x27;m hoping by the time this tournament is done, I head back to my team. I&#x27;ll be in almost midseason form,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s really important for me since I really have to take care of my body. You know I&#x27;m not as athletic and spry as I used to be. A tournament like this would really help me going forward for the season,&quot; Wright added.</p><p>The Filipino-Canadian guard believes his game has improved since playing in Japan for the last three years.</p><p>&quot;I think just the quality of basketball and the coaching in Japan is at a very high level right now. So I was able to learn a lot. You&#x27;re never too old to learn, especially the game of basketball,&quot;  Wright said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SHOWING SUPPORT FOR PHOENIX</strong></div><p>Wright showed support to his former team, the Phoenix Fuelmasters, during their game against the Blackwater Bossing last Wednesday.  </p><p>&quot;I think I&#x27;ve got to stop coming to games because I think they&#x27;re like 0-4 every time I watch. I think I&#x27;m malas. But it was good to see the guys,&quot; Wright jokingly said.</p><p>&quot;Obviously, I have a lot of relationships with the team still. You know guys like [Jason] Perkins and Justin Chua. I just wanted to go say hi and show my support. I got a free ticket, so I might as well use it,&quot; he shared.</p><p>Phoenix head coach Charles Tiu, who also calls the shots for Strong Group, earlier said it was good to see Wright again.  </p><p>But if Tiu could have it his way, he would like to have Wright play again for Phoenix.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT</strong></div><p>The Filipino-Canadian admitted he misses his old teammates, the fans, the culture, the food here but he has &#x27;to do what&#x27;s best for his family and career.&#x27;</p><p>When asked about the possibility of him returning to the PBA, Wright did not close his doors on making a comeback.</p><p>&quot;I love playing in Japan. It&#x27;s definitely a great experience. My family loves the country, the culture, everything. Food, everything is just great. But obviously, the PBA is never too far from my sights. I always come back to the Philippines whenever I can,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;So there&#x27;s always a possibility of me coming back at any moment, really. But as of now, I&#x27;m committed. I&#x27;m signed to Japan. That&#x27;s where my focus is right now,&quot; Wright shared.</p><p>The 35-year-old sniper said there&#x27;s still goals he wants to accomplish in the PBA later down the road. </p><p>&quot;I told my wife, you know when I feel like it&#x27;s going to be my last few years, I&#x27;m going to go back to the PBA. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business here. I still want to win a championship,&quot; Wright said.  </p><p>&quot;You know I was lucky enough to play in Japan those years. But I&#x27;m eventually gonna come home and you know, have a swan song season here in the PBA,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Matthew Wright is eager to make his return to the Japanese B.League after nearly a year away.</p>

Matthew Wright is eager to make his return to the Japanese B.League after nearly a year away.