| No. 15–NorthPort Batang Pier | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | PBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 15, 1998 |
| Nationality | Filipino / Canadian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 182 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | San Beda |
| PBA draft | 2023: 2nd round, 20th overall pick |
| Selected by the Blackwater Bossing | |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023 | Zamboanga Valientes |
| 2023 | Bacoor City Strikers |
| 2023–2025 | Blackwater Bossing |
| 2025–present | NorthPort Batang Pier |
| Career highlights | |
| |
James Canlas Kwekuteye (born August 15, 1998) is a Filipino-Canadian professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Kwekuteye played his college career with the San Beda Red Lions and turned professional in 2023 when he joined the Zamboanga Valientes for the 2023 ABL Invitational. Afterwards, he moved to the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), where he made the All-MPBL Second Team as well as an all-star appearance. During the PBA season 48 draft, he was selected 20th overall by the Blackwater Bossing. In 2025, he was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier.
Kwekuteye played for the San Beda Red Lions during his college career. He also played in the PBA D-League. [1]
After NCAA Season 98, Kwekuteye signed for the Zamboanga Valientes during the ASEAN Basketball League's 2023 Invitational tournament, forgoing his final year with San Beda. [2] After signing with the team, he stated that he would remain "open" for a return to San Beda and that he is "testing the waters in the ABL". [3]
After his ABL stint, Kwekuteye joined the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. He was selected to the All-MPBL Second Team after averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, earning an appearance in the 2023 MPBL All-Star Game and helping his team in their run to the 2023 MPBL finals. [4]
Kwekuteye was selected 20th overall by the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association during the season 48 draft. [5]
On April 23, 2025, Blackwater traded Kwekuteye to the NorthPort Batang Pier in exchange for Abu Tratter. [6]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage |
| 3FG% | 3-point field-goal percentage | 4P% | 4-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 |
As of the end of 2024–25 season [7]
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | 4P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Blackwater | 15 | 18.3 | .370 | .222 | — | 1.000 | 1.9 | 1.7 | .4 | .1 | 7.7 |
| 2024–25 | Blackwater | 32 | 17.9 | .369 | .347 | .000 | .846 | 2.1 | 1.4 | .8 | .2 | 6.0 |
| NorthPort | ||||||||||||
| Career | 47 | 18.0 | .369 | .305 | .000 | .926 | 2.0 | 1.5 | .7 | .1 | 6.6 | |
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | 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 |
As of the end of 2023 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bacoor City | 33 | 27 | 26.1 | .379 | .294 | .716 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | .6 | 12.5 |