By MARK REY MONTEJO
JD Cagulangan finally tasted the sweetness of a win as a pro as the Suwon KT Sonicboom trounced the Seoul Samsung Thunders, 74-65, in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Frustrated in his first three games, Cagulangan and the Sonicboom made they would end as victors this time, coming through with offensive spurts in the second quarter to grab the lead and eventually the momentum.
The win likewise put a stop to Suwon’s four-game losing streak and raised its record to 16-14 for fifth place in the standings.
It also came two days before the former UP star turns 25.
He did score only four points but had three rebounds and four assists.
Starring for Suwon was Ha Yun-Gi who tallied 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block while Moon Seong-Gon and Rayshaun Hammonds added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Fil-Am Justin Gutang produced eight points, three rebounds, and two assists for Seoul while four of his teammates had double-digit scoring outputs which all went down the drain as the Thunders fell at eight with an 11-19 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, Ethan Alvano proved why he is a force to reckon with on Korean soil after tallying a triple-double performance to spark the Wonju DB Promy to a 82-75 victory over the Anyang JKJ Red Boosters.
Coming from the KBL All-Star a few days ago, the 28-year-old Alvano scattered 11 points while hauling down 10 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists – in 36 minutes of play – which complemented Robert Carter’s montroust 28-point and 14-rebound showing and Lee Kwan-Hee’s 24 points.
Their superb production was enough to seal the win for the Promy who improved to a 15-16 slate at sixth spot despite great offensive counters from Javi Gomez de Liano (18) and Johnny O’Bryant (21) for the Red Boosters (8-23).