In their first professional basketball showdown, JD Cagulangan still got the better of Kevin Quiambao.
Suwon KT secured a thrilling 78-73 victory over Goyang Sono in the 2024-25 KBL season on Friday at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena.
The two former UAAP stars — who led the rivalry between De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines in the past two UAAP finals — reignited their competition with a down-to-the-wire battle in their KBL debut match-up.
Cagulangan finished with four points, four assists, one rebound, and one steal. Meanwhile, Quiambao nearly recorded his first KBL double-double with 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
Trailing by as many as 13 points at halftime, the Sonicboom mounted a comeback in the second half, highlighted by a quick 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 72-65 lead with 5:01 remaining.
The Skygunners refused to go down easily, responding with an 8-2 surge, capped by a clutch three-pointer from Quiambao that trimmed the deficit to 74-73 with 1:22 left.
However, Cagulangan had the final say.
With 59.8 seconds remaining, the Season 87 Finals MVP checked in for the injured Han Hee-Won, who was forced to the bench after taking an inadvertent elbow from Lim Dong-Seop.
Cagulangan then calmly sank two clutch free throws in Hee-Won’s place, giving Suwon KT a slim 76-73 advantage.
Goyang Sono struggled in the closing moments.
Dwight Burns Jr. missed two crucial free throws with 39.6 seconds left, and Quiambao committed a costly turnover with just 3.9 seconds remaining, sealing the win for Suwon KT.
The victory marked Suwon KT’s third straight win, solidifying their hold on fourth place in the 10-team league with a 19-15 record.
The Sonicboom also widened the gap between themselves and fifth-place Daegu KOGAS (18-15), led by SJ Belangel, as well as sixth-place Wonju DB (16-18), featuring Ethan Alvano.
Meanwhile, the Skygunners suffered their fourth consecutive loss, keeping them at the bottom of the standings with a 10-24 record.
Quiambao and Goyang Sono will look to bounce back when the two-time UAAP MVP faces Cagulangan and Suwon KT again on Thursday, March 13.
