JD Cagulangan and the Suwon KT Sonicboom. during a Korean Basketball League (KBL) quarterfinal game. –KBL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—JD Cagulangan and Suwon KT Sonicboom are en route to the Korean Basketball League’s semifinals after defeating the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus in Game 5 of the quarters on Sunday.
Cagulangan, the reigning KBL Rookie of the Year, produced ample contributions to help the Sonicboom punch a ticket to the Final Four at the expense of former UAAP rival, SJ Belangel and the Pegasus.
READ: KBL: Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao hope to play in Korea longer
The two-time UAAP champion and University of the Philippines product shone in his 29 minutes of action in the do-or-die game, posting 12 points, four assists, one rebound and one steal to push Suwon closer to the title.
Belangel, though, poured out his all but just missed the game-winning triple that would have sent the Sonicboom packing.
The former Ateneo floor general, however, finished with 13 points, five assists, four rebounds and a block in Daegu’s swan song for the season.
Ha Yoon-Gi was of huge help for Cagulangan and Suwon with 19 crucial points while import Rayshaun Hammonds also helped the cause with 12 points to his name.
MORE FILIPINO FACES IN SEMIS
FILE–Changwon LG Sakers’ Carl Tamayo during a Korean Basketball League (KBL) game. –KBL PHOTO
Belangel may be out of KBL action following the elimination but that doesn’t mean that Cagulangan will be the only representation the Philippines will have in the league semis.
In fact, all four teams that will participate in the league’s semifinals will have Filipino imports in their lineups.
READ: Carl Tamayo part of KBL season’s ‘Best 5’
Cagulangan will banner Suwon against the Seoul SK Knights in the next phase, who have fellow former Fighting Maroon Juan Gomez de Liaño.
In the other bracket, the Changwon LG Sakers will duke it out with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.
Changwon will have the services of KBL revelation and Round 3 MVP Carl Tamayo while Ulsan will have former NCAA stalwart and College of St. Benilde sniper Migs Oczon.
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Gomez de Liaño and Seoul clash with Cagulangan and Suwon to begin their semis bout on Wednesday while Tamayo’s LG Sakers open their own series against Oczon and Mobis Phoebus on Thursday.
