MANILA, Philippines – Justin Gutang and the Changwon LG Sakers clinched an outright semifinal berth in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) after gutting out a 97-88 win over RJ Abarrientos and the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus on Wednesday, March 29.
Abarrientos outplayed Gutang in their head-to-head matchup, but it was the former CSB Blazer who got the last laugh as Changwon (36-18) finished the regular season at the second spot, which comes with an automatic seat in the semifinals, together with Rhenz Abando’s league-leading Anyang KGC (37-17).
Former NBA journeyman Dante Cunningham willed Changwon to victory with a game-high 30 points, while Gutang contributed 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
On the other side, Gaige Prim paced Ulsan – which dropped to No. 4 in the standings with a 34-20 card – with a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Abarrientos added 21 markers, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Already assured of the top spot, Anyang ended its regular season on the wrong foot as it absorbed a 101-72 beating at the hands of the Goyang Carrot Jumpers.
The KBL Slam Dunk champion Abando racked up 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks for Anyang in the lopsided affair.
Meanwhile, SJ Belangel’s Daegu KOGAS Pegasus and Ethan Alvano’s Wonju DB Promy, who both failed to crack the six-team playoff cast, wrapped up their respective 2022-2023 KBL campaigns in contrasting fashion on Wednesday.
Belangel had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in Daegu’s 75-57 demolition of the Jeonju KCC Egis, while the Filipino-American playmaker Alvano scored 12 markers in Wonju’s 86-75 loss to the Seoul SK Knights.
Elsewhere, Dave Ildefonso and the also-ran Suwon KT Sonicboom closed out their season with an 84-81 win over the Seoul Samsung Thunders.
Former PBA import Lester Prosper showed the way for Suwon with 20 points and 8 rebounds, while Ildefonso recorded just 2 markers and 1 board. – Rappler.com
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