Kang Dong-koong, one of the top players in Korea's Professional Billiards Association (PBA), has joined Huons after his previous team was disbanded ahead of the new season. Fans are turning their attention to his pairing with Choi Sung-won, with whom he has led Korea's billiards scene as part of a "top two" rivalry.
Kang was selected with the first pick of the second round by Huons at the 2026-2027 PBA Team League Draft held Friday at the PBA Stadium in KINTEX, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
Major players from the SK Rent-a-Car team, which disbanded at the end of last season, entered the market at the draft. Kang, who had played for SK Rent-a-Car since the launch of the PBA Tour, is a marquee player with four career titles and 706.5 million won in cumulative prize money. Attending the draft in person, Kang said, "It is disappointing that the team I belonged to for seven years has disbanded, but on the other hand, I am excited to join a strong team like Huons." He added, "I will work hard to make the team stronger alongside Choi Sung-won, whom I have long respected." Asked about his personal goals with the new team, he said firmly, "I will aim for two or three wins, including the World Championship finale, and push past 1 billion won in cumulative prize money."
Kang Ji-eun, also from SK Rent-a-Car, was picked first overall in the first round by High1 Resort. Among other former SK Rent-a-Car players who found new teams at the draft were Cho Kun-whi (second pick of Round 1, Welcome Savings Bank), Eddy Leppens of Belgium (third pick of Round 2, High1 Resort), and Ngo Dinh Nai of Vietnam (first pick of Round 3). Meanwhile, two former SK Rent-a-Car LPBA players, Orie Hida of Japan and Cho Ye-eun, were not selected.
Among players who entered the professional billiards stage for the first time through priority registration, PBA's Dao Van Ly of Vietnam (third pick of Round 4, NH Nonghyup Card) and LPBA's Choi Bom-i (seventh pick of Round 3, Welcome Savings Bank) were picked. Dao Van Ly once reached No. 45 in the world rankings of the Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB), while Choi Bom-i ranked fourth in women's three-cushion under the Korea Billiards Federation (KBF).
Separately, the PBA plans to search for a company to succeed SK Rent-a-Car while directly launching and operating a 10th team in the league. It will select at least seven players, the minimum required for Team League participation, primarily from those who went unselected at the draft. The PBA Tour season-opening Woori Financial Capital Championship begins Sunday, and the Team League starts in July.
