By MARK REY MONTEJO
Carl Tamayo fired 27 points and helped the Changwon LG Sakers essay a 76-71 win over the Seoul SK Knights to take a commanding 2-0 finals lead in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) Wednesday, May 7.
Fresh off an almost 38-minute of play in the finals opener, Tamayo seemed tireless as he kept the Sakers afloat in waning minutes of Game 2 that saw him exchange baskets with his compatriot Juan Gomez de Liaño for the Knights.
The 24-year-old Tamayo made 50-percent of his shooting from the field apart from posting seven rebounds, and one steal to spark Changwon.
Game 3 of their best-of-seven title series is set Friday, May 9, with Changwon getting closer to clinch its first-ever KBL crown after failing to get one in its last two attempts, while Seoul SK eyes to keep its contention for its fourth championship.
It was Tamayo’s back-to-back 20-point game after scoring 24 in the Sakers’ 75-66 Game 1 triumph against the Knights last Monday, May 5.
With their Game 2 victory, the Talisay, Cebu native is nearing to become the first Filipino to win a title on Korean soil.
Yu Ki-Sang provided the support with 14 points, while Heo Il-Young and Assem Marei, who also posted 14 rebounds, added 12 points each.
De Liaño, for his part, poured in 19 points – his most in the Korean league – on top of four rebounds and two assists to lead the Knights’ scoring column.
