KBL Round 44 (Regular Season): Seoul Knights edge LG Sakers by one point

The Regular Season in KBL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Second-ranked Sakers (31-19) made lots of trouble for first ranked Knights (40-10) in Seoul on Friday. Knights managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Sakers. The best player for the winners was American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) who scored 22 points and 9 rebounds. The former international forward Youngjun An (195-1995) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists. Sang Yugi produced 27 points for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Seoul Knights maintains first position with 40-10 record. LG Sakers at the other side keep the second place with 19 games lost. Seoul Knights are looking forward to face KoGas (#5) in Inchon in the next round. LG Sakers will play on the road against KCC Egis in Jeonju and are hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
The game in Wonju was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked Mobis Phoebus (29-20) played at the court of 7th ranked Wonju DB (21-28). Mobis Phoebus managed to secure a 9-point victory 71-62. American forward Gaige Prim (203-1999, college: Missouri St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. Woosuk Lee contributed with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. American-Lebanese Omari Spellman (206-1997, college: Villanova) replied with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds for Wonju DB. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mobis Phoebus maintains fourth position with 29-20 record. Defending champion Wonju DB keeps the seventh place with 28 games lost. Mobis Phoebus will play against Sono SG (#9) in Daegu in the next round where they are favorite. Wonju DB will play on the road against Seoul Thunders and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Jeonju supposed to be also quite interesting. Fifth ranked KoGas (25-25) played at the court of 8th ranked Egis (17-32). KoGas smashed Egis 96-67 on Friday. Worth to mention a great performance of Andrew Nicholson who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Cady Lalanne responded with 20 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. KoGas maintains fifth position with 25-25 record. Loser Egis keep the eighth place with 32 games lost. KoGas will meet at home league's leader Seoul Knights in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. KCC Egis will play against the league's second-placed LG Sakers (#2) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 44 LG Sakers crushed Seoul Thunders in Changwon 92-69. Suwon KT beat Sono SG at home 90-81.



Seoul Thunders - LG Sakers 69-92

There was no surprise in Seoul where 10th ranked Samsung Thunders (15-33) were crushed by second ranked Sakers (31-19) 92-69 on Wednesday. LG Sakers outrebounded Seoul Thunders 46-26 including a 33-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. LG Sakers looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Egyptian center Assem Marei (206-1992, college: MSU) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field) and Sang Yugi who added 23 points during the contest. American forward Glenn Robinson III (198-1994, college: Michigan) responded with 19 points and 6 rebounds and naturalized American guard Justin Gutang (191-1997, college: Skyline JC) scored 19 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. LG Sakers maintains second position with 31-19 record having nine points less than leader Seoul Knights. Seoul Thunders lost third consecutive game. They stay dead last with 33 lost games. LG Sakers will meet KCC Egis (#8) in the next round where they are favorite. Seoul Thunders will play against Wonju DB and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Seoul Thunders: J.Gutang 19+4reb+3ast, G.Robinson III 19+6reb+2ast, S.Choi 10+3reb+3ast, S.Choi 8+1reb+1ast, J.Lee 6+4reb+4ast, M.Cha 4+2reb
LG Sakers: A.Marei 27+15reb+5ast, S.Yugi 23+2reb+2ast, C.Tamayo 15+5reb+4ast, J.Yang 8+3reb+3ast, I.Jeong 8+3reb+3ast, D.Monroe 6+7reb+4ast

Suwon KT - Sono SG 90-81

No shocking result in a game in Busan where third ranked Sonicboom (30-19) defeated 9th ranked Skygunners (16-33) 90-81 on Thursday. Suwon KT looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international guard Hoon Heo (181-1995) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 assists and American center Rayshaun Hammonds (206-1998, college: Georgia) who added 19 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Forward Jeong-Hyeon Lee (187-1999) responded with 25 points and American center Alan Williams (203-1993, college: UCSB) scored 16 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Sonicboom have a solid three-game winning streak. Suwon KT maintains third position with 30-19 record having eleven points less than leader Seoul Knights. Loser Skygunners keeps the ninth place with 33 games lost. Suwon KT will meet at home Wonju DB (#7) in the next round. Sono SG will play against Mobis Phoebus in Ulsan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Sono SG: J.Lee 25+1reb+3ast, A.Williams 16+9reb+3ast, K.Quiambao 12+1reb+2ast, J.Kim 7+2reb+4ast, D.Lim 6+2reb, E.Jo 5+2reb
Suwon KT: H.Heo 25+10ast, R.Hammonds 19+10reb, J.Cagulangan 9+3ast, J.Moon 7+5reb+1ast, H.Han 6+2reb, S.Park 6+3reb+1ast

Wonju DB - Mobis Phoebus 62-71

The game in Wonju was also worth to mention about. Fourth ranked Mobis Phoebus (29-20) played at the court of 7th ranked Wonju DB (21-28). Mobis Phoebus managed to secure a 9-point victory 71-62. Mobis Phoebus dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Wonju DB's 28. American forward Gaige Prim (203-1999, college: Missouri St.) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. International forward Woosuk Lee (196-1999) contributed with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners. American-Lebanese Omari Spellman (206-1997, college: Villanova) replied with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds and American guard Ethan Alvano (185-1996, college: CSUSM) added 8 points in the effort for Wonju DB. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mobis Phoebus maintains fourth position with 29-20 record. Defending champion Wonju DB keeps the seventh place with 28 games lost. Mobis Phoebus will play against Sono SG (#9) in Daegu in the next round where they are favorite. Wonju DB will play on the road against Seoul Thunders and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Wonju DB: O.Spellman 23+12reb+2ast, S.Choi 10+1reb, I.Park 8+1reb+1ast, E.Alvano 8+4reb+2ast, H.Jung 4+7reb+3ast, C.Onuaku 4+4reb
Mobis Phoebus: G.Prim 21+8reb, J.Jang 12+3reb+2ast, J.Ham 11+3reb, S.Long 9+6reb+2ast, W.Lee 7+6reb+9ast, G.Kim 5+4reb+1ast

KCC Egis - KoGas 67-96

The game in Jeonju supposed to be also quite interesting. Fifth ranked KoGas (25-25) played at the court of 8th ranked Egis (17-32). KoGas smashed Egis 96-67 on Friday. KoGas made 18-of-20 free shots (90.0 percent) during the game. KoGas outrebounded KCC Egis 36-24 including 27 on the defensive glass. KoGas looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Canadian Andrew Nicholson (206-1989, college: St.Bonaventure) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Filipino guard Samjosef Belangel (177-1999) who added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) during the contest. Four KoGas players scored in double figures. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) responded with 20 points and American power forward Donovan Smith (207-1993, college: Quinnipiac) scored 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. KoGas maintains fifth position with 25-25 record. Loser Egis keep the eighth place with 32 games lost. KoGas will meet at home league's leader Seoul Knights in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. KCC Egis will play against the league's second-placed LG Sakers (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
KCC Egis: C.Lalanne 20+4reb+2ast, H.Lee 9+4reb+2ast, G.Lee 9+2reb, U.Heo 6+1reb+1ast, J.Yeo 6, D.Kim 6+3reb+1ast
KoGas: A.Nicholson 23+5reb+4ast, S.Belangel 17+5reb+4ast, Y.Ndoye 14+6reb, J.Kim 13+6reb+5ast, S.Shin 7+1reb, J.Kwak 5+2reb

Seoul Knights - LG Sakers 79-78

Second-ranked Sakers (31-19) made lots of trouble for first ranked Knights (40-10) in Seoul on Friday. Knights managed to secure only one-point victory 79-78. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Sakers. The best player for the winners was American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) who scored 22 points and 9 rebounds. The former international forward Youngjun An (195-1995) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists. Sang Yugi produced 27 points and Egyptian center Assem Marei (206-1992, college: MSU) added 13 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Seoul Knights maintains first position with 40-10 record. LG Sakers at the other side keep the second place with 19 games lost. Seoul Knights are looking forward to face KoGas (#5) in Inchon in the next round. LG Sakers will play on the road against KCC Egis in Jeonju and are hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
LG Sakers: S.Yugi 27+4reb+3ast, J.Yang 15+6ast, A.Marei 13+7reb+7ast, C.Tamayo 9+8reb, I.Jeong 5+5reb, I.Heo 3+1reb
Seoul Knights: J.Warney 22+9reb+1ast, Y.An 16+2reb+4ast, J.Oh 10+5reb+1ast, I.Hicks 7+2reb+1ast, J.Gomez De Liano 7+3reb+2ast, K.Taeho 5+3reb