SJ Belangel delivered a career-best performance in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), leading the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus to a commanding 114-77 victory over the Seoul Samsung Thunders on Saturday at the Jamsil Arena in Seoul.
The former Ateneo standout erupted for 36 points, shooting an efficient 12-of-17 from the field, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Belangel’s all-around brilliance was on full display as he added three rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, propelling Daegu to a dominant win and improving their record to 14-10.
“It was a total team effort,” said Belangel after the game. “I’m just happy to contribute and help my team get this important win.”
Belangel’s heroics were complemented by Andrew Nicholson, who poured in 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep, along with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Youssou Ndoye added a double-double with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint for the Pegasus.
On the other side, Lee Jung-Hyun paced the Seoul Samsung Thunders with 21 points on a flawless 7-of-7 from inside the arc, while also tallying two rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Justin Gutang chipped in 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, three assists, and one steal, but their efforts weren’t enough as the Thunders slid to a 7-17 record.
In another KBL match-up, the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus cruised to an 85-64 victory over the Changwon LG Sakers at the Dongchun Gymnasium in Ulsan.
Gaige Prim led Ulsan with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds, and four assists, as the Phoebus solidified their hold on second place with an 18-7 record – just half a game behind the league-leading Seoul SK Knights.
Lee Woo-Suk contributed 16 points, four rebounds, and six assists, while Shawn Long added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Filipino guard Migs Oczon also made his presence felt, coming off the bench to score seven points, grab two rebounds, and dish out one assist in nearly 12 minutes of action.
Despite a strong second-quarter surge from the Sakers, Changwon faltered in the latter stages of the game, dropping to 13-12. Jeon Seong-Hyun led Changwon with 18 points, including 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range, and added three assists.
Speculations are now swirling about the possible return of Carl Tamayo for Changwon’s next game against the Goyang Sono Skygunners.
Tamayo, recovering from a groin injury, is rumored to be reactivated as the Sakers look to bounce back.
Meanwhile, reigning KBL MVP Ethan Alvano put on a clutch performance, powering the Wonju DB Promy to an 88-86 escape against the Busan KCC Egis at the Sajik Gymnasium in Busan.
Alvano registered a double-double with 26 points and 12 assists, steering the Promy back to an even 13-13 record. His leadership down the stretch proved crucial in sealing the narrow win.
Calvin Epistola, another Filipino guard, saw action for the Egis, logging 19 minutes and scoring two points. Busan KCC dropped to a 10-15 record with the loss.
