Carl Tamayo made a triumphant comeback after a three-game absence, delivering in the clutch to lead the Changwon LG Sakers to a hard-fought 67-64 victory over the Goyang Sono Skygunners on Sunday at the Changwon Gymnasium.
Returning from an injury that sidelined him since late last year, Tamayo immediately made an impact. He tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists to help snap the LG Sakers’ two-game skid.
The former University of the Philippines standout came up big when it mattered most, sinking a crucial basket with 1:19 remaining to extend Changwon’s lead to 65-62.
Tamayo’s timely shot halted a furious 7-0 Goyang run that had erased what was once a commanding 63-55 lead earlier in the fourth quarter.
Tamayo led all scorers for Changwon, which had three players in double figures. Darryl Monrose provided strong support with a near triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the victory.
With the win, the LG Sakers improved their record to 14-12, winning nine of their last 11 games to maintain momentum in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) standings.
Goyang – which is preparing to add two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao to its roster this week – dropped to 9-17, struggling to find consistency in their campaign.
On the other hand, the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus notched their second consecutive win, defeating the Anyang Red Boosters, 84-77.
Although SJ Belangel had a rough shooting night, he made up for it by stepping up as a playmaker. He dished out seven assists – most of which came in the decisive moments of the fourth quarter.
Belangel also chipped in 11 points to aid the Pegasus’ efforts.
Youssou Ndoye dominated for KOGAS with a monstrous double-double, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds to power his team to victory.
Meanwhile, Javi Gomez de Liaño struggled to make an impact for Anyang, logging over three minutes of play without contributing to the stat sheet.
The win lifted KOGAS to a 15-10 record, keeping them in the upper half of the standings.
Anyang, however, is in dire straits, losing seven straight games to fall to the bottom of the league with a 7-19 record.
Meanwhile, the Seoul SK Knights continued their winning ways, extending their streak to four games with a nail-biting 67-63 victory over the Suwon KT Sonicboom, who are set to bolster their lineup with the arrival of UP’s JD Cagulangan soon.
Juan Gomez de Liaño saw limited action for the Knights, logging over eight minutes on the floor and finishing with two points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal.
Despite the close contest, Seoul remains atop the KBL standings with a league-best 19-6 record, showcasing their championship pedigree.
