By MARK REY MONTEJO
JD Cagulangan and the Suwon KT Sonicboom thwarted the SJ Belangel-led Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, 75-71, to level their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) Tuesday, April 15.
Coming off a 67-64 loss to the Pegasus in Game 1 last weekend, the Sonicboom regrouped and went off to a 13-2 blitz midway of the fourth quarter to secure a 62-49 lead which they protected up to the end to level the series at 1-1.
Cagulangan was all over the floor with seven points, four rebounds, six assists, and five steals in 32 minutes of action for Suwon.
The two-time UAAP champion had a decent 4-point, two-rebound, two-assist, and one-steal performance in the last contest.
Leading the Sonicboom’s offense were veterans Heo Hoon and Ha Yun-Gi as they put up 18 and 14 points, respectively. Jordan Morgan (13) and Jeong-Hyeong Moon (12) also finished as double-digit scorers.
Belangel, for his part, tallied 18 points on top of two rebounds, three assists, and three steals with Manguk Matiang providing the support off a double-double effort of 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Belangel, a former Gilas Pilipinas and Ateneo standout, also impressed in Game One where he registered 13 points, three rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Game 3 is set later Wednesday, April 16. The victor of the series will face the league-leading Seoul SK Knights in the semifinal.
Meanwhile, Carl Tamayo, who was recently named as a member of league’s Mythical Five, and the Changwon LG Sakers are already in the semis where they await the winner between Anyang and Ulsan.
