Carl Tamayo, LG Sakers clinch first KBL championship

Filipino forward Carl Tamayo helped the Changwon LG Sakers secure their first-ever Korean Basketball League championship after defeating the Seoul SK Knights 62-58 in Game 7.

Tamayo contributed a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the championship-clinching game.

Heo Il-Young led the LG Sakers with 14 points, while Kim Jae-hyeon added 12 points, including crucial free throws, and was named Finals MVP.

Jameel Warney and Kim Sun-hyung scored 11 points each for the SK Knights, who were unable to complete the comeback.

Juan Gomez de Liano, another Filipino import, was part of the Seoul SK Knights team that lost in the finals.

The University of the Philippines, Tamayo's and Gomez de Liano's alma mater, lauded both players for their achievements.

UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol stated that the presence of both players in the KBL finals is a testament to the UP Basketball program's talent identification and development.