Cagulangan, Sonicboom bow to Knights in KBL semis opener

April 25 ------ The league-leading Seoul SK Knights overcame a slow start and turned back the Suwon KT Sonicboom, 65-61, to draw first blood in their semifinal clash in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). 

Trailing by 15, 13-28, the Knights remained composed and recovered immediately, with Jameel Warney orchestrating an 8-2 blitz in the fourth to build a 63-52 cushion which they protected until the end. Warney took charge for Seoul as he poured in 23 points on top of nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while Kim Sun-Hyung added 10 points. 

Leading Suwon’s assault was veteran Heo Hoon who had 24 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Rayshaun Hammonds went off a double-double effort of 18 points and 15 rebounds. This year's Rookie of the Year JD Cagulangan, for his part, still impressed in a losing cause, chipping in four points, four rebounds, six assists, one block, and one steal in 36 minutes of action. It was the two-time UAAP champion’s longest playing time for the Sonicboom since joining the club earlier this year. 

His Filipino counterpart and fellow ex-University of the Philippines Maroon, Juan Gomez de Liano, was sidelined in that game. Carl Tamayo and the Sakers go for a strong start against the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus, who also has a Filipino dribbler in former College of Saint Benilde Blazer Migs Oczon, when they open their semis series Thursday, April 24. 

Source: mb.com.ph