KBL Round 45 (Regular Season): KoGas defeat Seoul Knights

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Knights (40-11) in Inchon on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by fifth ranked KoGas (26-25) 75-74. Strangely Seoul Knights outrebounded KoGas 46-31 including 33 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a good game for Canadian Andrew Nicholson (206-1989, college: St.Bonaventure) who saved his team from a defeat with 27 points and 8 rebounds. The former international center Jun-Yl Kim (202-1992) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) answered with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists for Seoul Knights. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. KoGas maintains fifth place with 26-25 record. Seoul Knights at the other side still keep top position with 11 games lost. KoGas are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Seoul Thunders (#10) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Seoul Knights will have a break next round.
Seventh-ranked Wonju DB (22-29) was very close to win a game against third ranked Sonicboom (31-19) in Busan. Sonicboom managed to secure only two-point victory 69-67. However their fans expected much easier game. American center Rayshaun Hammonds (206-1998, college: Georgia) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and Hoon Heo chipped in 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Sonicboom's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American-Lebanese Omari Spellman (206-1997, college: Villanova) with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Sonicboom have a solid series of four victories in a row. Suwon KT maintains third place with 31-19 record having ten points less than leader Seoul Knights. Defending champion Wonju DB keeps the seventh position with 29 games lost. Suwon KT will play against Mobis Phoebus (#4) in Ulsan in the next round. Wonju DB will have a break next round.
The game in Jeonju supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Sakers (32-19) played at the court of 8th ranked Egis (17-33). Sakers smashed Egis 97-72 on Sunday. Assem Marei nailed a double-double by scoring 13 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Ung Heo came up with 20 points and 4 assists for KCC Egis in the defeat. 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 moved-up to second place. Loser Egis keep the eighth position with 33 games lost. LG Sakers will meet at home Anyang (#6) in the next round. KCC Egis will play against Sono SG and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 45: Sono SG was beaten by Mobis Phoebus on the road 94-79. Bottom-ranked Seoul Thunders lost to Anyang on its own court 72-82. Wonju DB managed to outperform Seoul Thunders in a road game 85-76.
The most impressive performance of 45th round was 29 points and 6 rebounds by Glenn Robinson III of Seoul Thunders.



Mobis Phoebus - Sono SG 94-79

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Mobis Phoebus (30-20) beat 9th ranked Skygunners (16-34) in Ulsan 94-79 on Saturday. Mobis Phoebus looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Sono SG's players. American forward Shawn Long (208-1993, college: Louisiana, agency: Pensack Sports) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side and guard Myeong-jin Seo (191-1999) accounted for 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Mobis Phoebus players scored in double figures. American forward DJ Burns Jr (206-2000, college: NC State) came up with 16 points and 4 assists and the former international point guard Jae-Do Lee (180-1991) added 14 points respectively for Sono SG in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mobis Phoebus maintains fourth place with 30-20 record. Sono SG lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 34 games lost. Mobis Phoebus will meet at home higher ranked Suwon KT (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Sono SG will play against KCC Egis (#8) in Jeonju and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sono SG: D.Burns Jr. 16+4reb+4ast, J.Lee 14+3reb+3ast, J.Lee 12+1reb+3ast, E.Jo 8+2reb+1ast, D.Seo 8+2reb, A.Williams 8+1reb
Mobis Phoebus: G.Prim 23+3reb+2ast, S.Long 20+10reb+1ast, M.Seo 17+5reb+7ast, W.Lee 11+2reb+3ast, J.Jang 10+10reb+8ast, M.Park 9+3reb+4ast

Seoul Thunders - Anyang 72-82

Very expected game when 10th ranked Samsung Thunders (15-35) lost to sixth ranked Anyang (23-27) in Seoul 72-82 on Saturday. American swingman Deonte Burton (193-1994, college: Iowa St.) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side and the former international point guard Jihoon Park (184-1995) accounted for 17 points and 6 assists. American forward Glenn Robinson III (198-1994, college: Michigan) came up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and naturalized American guard Justin Gutang (191-1997, college: Skyline JC) added 17 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Seoul Thunders in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Anyang have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain sixth place with 23-27 record. Seoul Thunders lost fifth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 35 lost games. Anyang will meet league's second-placed LG Sakers in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Seoul Thunders will play against KoGas (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Seoul Thunders: J.Gutang 17+5reb, G.Robinson III 16+13reb+2ast, W.Lee 9+6reb, S.Choi 9+4reb+3ast, J.Lee 8+2reb+11ast, H.Choi 5
Anyang: D.Burton 20+12reb+1ast, J.Gomez De Liano 17+3reb+2ast, J.Park 17+4reb+6ast, J.O'Bryant III 9+6reb+1ast, S.Han 8+7reb+2ast, K.Kim 6+4reb+2ast

Suwon KT - Wonju DB 69-67

Seventh-ranked Wonju DB (22-29) was very close to win a game against third ranked Sonicboom (31-19) in Busan. Sonicboom managed to secure only two-point victory 69-67. However their fans expected much easier game. American center Rayshaun Hammonds (206-1998, college: Georgia) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and the former international guard Hoon Heo (181-1995) chipped in 20 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Sonicboom's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American-Lebanese Omari Spellman (206-1997, college: Villanova) with 11 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Ethan Alvano (185-1996, college: CSUSM) scored 14 points and 4 assists. Sonicboom have a solid series of four victories in a row. Suwon KT maintains third place with 31-19 record having ten points less than leader Seoul Knights. Defending champion Wonju DB keeps the seventh position with 29 games lost. Suwon KT will play against Mobis Phoebus (#4) in Ulsan in the next round. Wonju DB will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Wonju DB: E.Alvano 14+2reb+4ast, K.Lee 12+4reb+2ast, O.Spellman 11+9reb+2ast, I.Park 9+1reb, C.Onuaku 9+7reb+1ast, H.Jeong 5+3reb
Suwon KT: R.Hammonds 26+11reb, H.Heo 20+5reb+8ast, J.Moon 7+11reb+1ast, Y.Ha 6+4reb+1ast, S.Park 5, J.Cagulangan 3+2reb+5ast

KCC Egis - LG Sakers 72-97

The game in Jeonju supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Sakers (32-19) played at the court of 8th ranked Egis (17-33). Sakers smashed Egis 97-72 on Sunday. LG Sakers outrebounded KCC Egis 41-28 including 26 on the defensive glass. Egyptian center Assem Marei (206-1992, college: MSU) nailed a double-double by scoring 13 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and Filipino forward Carl Tamayo (200-2001) accounted for 19 points and 7 rebounds. Four Sakers players scored in double figures. The former international guard Ung Heo (183-1993) came up with 20 points and 4 assists and American power forward Donovan Smith (207-1993, college: Quinnipiac) added 14 points and 6 rebounds respectively for KCC Egis in the defeat. 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 moved-up to second place. Loser Egis keep the eighth position with 33 games lost. LG Sakers will meet at home Anyang (#6) in the next round. KCC Egis will play against Sono SG and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
KCC Egis: U.Heo 20+4reb+4ast, C.Lalanne 15+4reb, D.Smith 14+6reb, H.Lee 6+1reb+3ast, C.Epistola 5+1reb+4ast, D.Kim 5+2reb
LG Sakers: C.Tamayo 19+7reb, S.Yugi 18+2reb+3ast, A.Marei 13+15reb+6ast, D.Monroe 11+7reb+1ast, H.Choi 8+1reb, K.Lee 7+2reb+4ast

KoGas - Seoul Knights 75-74

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Knights (40-11) in Inchon on Sunday night. Visitors were edged by fifth ranked KoGas (26-25) 75-74. Strangely Seoul Knights outrebounded KoGas 46-31 including 33 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a good game for Canadian Andrew Nicholson (206-1989, college: St.Bonaventure) who saved his team from a defeat with 27 points and 8 rebounds. The former international center Jun-Yl Kim (202-1992) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) answered with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists and the former international forward Youngjun An (195-1995) added 12 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Seoul Knights. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. KoGas maintains fifth place with 26-25 record. Seoul Knights at the other side still keep top position with 11 games lost. KoGas are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Seoul Thunders (#10) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Seoul Knights will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Seoul Knights: J.Warney 21+14reb+7ast, Y.An 12+9reb+3ast, I.Hicks 10+4reb+2ast, H.Kim 10+1reb+3ast, J.Oh 8+5reb+1ast, W.Choi 6+2reb+1ast
KoGas: A.Nicholson 27+8reb, J.Kim 18+5reb+2ast, S.Belangel 14+2reb+8ast, S.Jeong 11+3reb+4ast, J.Kwak 3+1reb+1ast, N.Kim 2+1reb+2ast

Seoul Thunders - Wonju DB 76-85

Rather predictable result when seventh ranked Wonju DB (22-29) won against bottom-ranked Samsung Thunders (15-35) in Seoul 85-76 on Sunday. Wonju DB outrebounded Seoul Thunders 45-24 including a 31-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. American guard Ethan Alvano (185-1996, college: CSUSM) nailed 25 points and 6 assists for the winning side and guard Ho-Young Jung (186-1998) accounted for 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Alvano is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Wonju DB players scored in double figures. American forward Glenn Robinson III (198-1994, college: Michigan) came up with 29 points and 6 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) and the former international forward Junghyun Lee (191-1987) added 16 points and 5 assists respectively for Seoul Thunders in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion maintains seventh place with 22-29 record. Seoul Thunders lost fifth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 35 lost games. Wonju DB will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Seoul Thunders will play against KoGas (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Seoul Thunders: G.Robinson III 29+6reb+3ast, J.Lee 16+4reb+5ast, W.Lee 16+5reb, J.Gutang 7+3reb+2ast, S.Choi 4+1reb, W.Tae-lee 2+3ast
Wonju DB: E.Alvano 25+4reb+6ast, K.Lee 20+7reb, C.Onuaku 14+11reb+4ast, H.Jung 12+12reb+6ast, I.Park 7+1reb, S.Kim 5