CHANGWON, South Korea — “Sono fans are amazing — it honestly feels like I’m back playing in the Philippines.”
Goyang Sono moved to within one win of the finals after defeating Changwon LG 85-76 in Game 2 of the 2025–26 KBL semifinals on Friday at Changwon Gymnasium.
With the win, Sono is now one win away from the KBL finals.
Much like Game 1, Sono got off to a slow start, falling behind by as many as 14 in the third. But that’s where the game began to turn.
Sono tightened up defensively and found its rhythm late in the third, eventually flipping the game. From there, they broke through LG’s defense and closed strong to secure another comeback win.
Kevin Quiambao, who had just eight points in Game 1 and was dealing with an ankle injury, bounced back in a big way. He finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, leading the comeback for Sono.
Quiambao on the win
“It wasn’t an easy start, just like Game 1, but I’m happy we had a strong second half. This win came from our teammates not giving up and trusting each other. We’ve won two in a row, but we’re not satisfied. There’s still one more to get, and we’ll keep pushing.”
On his Game 1 injury
“Even after the injury, I tried not to lose hope. That was the only thing on my mind. I had a similar injury last season, so I focused on recovery for two days. I want to thank the three trainers who treated me three times a day during rehab.”
On facing Carl Tamayo
“Tamayo and I go way back — we were high school teammates and went through a lot together. Then we became rivals in college. It’s an honor to compete against him here in Korea. But this isn’t about me versus him — it’s Sono vs. LG, five-on-five. I don’t focus too much on the matchup. He’s a great player on and off the court, and competing against him is exciting.”
On scoring more after struggling in Game 1
“Jeong In-deok is one of the best 3-and-D players in the KBL. In Game 1, I focused on figuring out LG’s defense, and it wasn’t easy. After the game, I spent time watching film and thinking about how to attack them better. I’m really happy it led to a good result today.”
On Sono’s comeback ability
“In the playoffs, mentality is everything. It comes down to passion, effort, and who wants it more. Everyone has to stay locked into their role and trust each other. It’s easy to get carried away by the moment, but we kept reminding each other of our goal, and that helped us close games.”
On chemistry with Lee Jung-hyun
“I trust the talent of Lee Jung-hyun and Nathan Knight. I focused on how I can complement them — defense, hustle plays, and things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. I know how great Lee is. Knight had some emotional moments earlier in the season, but he’s been much more composed lately. When I trust them and focus on my role, that’s when the synergy comes.”
On Sono fans
“I’ve got to thank our chairman and the organization for setting this up. The fans were amazing — it really felt like a home game. That’s what made these two games so special. We’re grateful, and we want to pay them back by getting to the finals.”
On comparing KBL atmosphere to the Philippines
“In the Philippines, basketball is like a religion, and the support is overwhelming. Basketball isn’t the main sport here in Korea, but Sono fans bring incredible energy. Because of them, it really feels like I’m playing back home.”
By Lee Jae Beom | Photos by Bok-ju Moon
This translation was reviewed with the assistance
[저작권자ⓒ 점프볼. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
