Cat Goyang Sono secured a commanding 2-0 series lead in the 2025-2026 Korean Basketball League playoffs with an 85-76 victory over Changwon LG in Game 2 of their semifinal matchup on April 25, 2026, at Changwon Gymnasium.
The win puts Sono just one victory away from reaching the championship series for the first time in franchise history since their establishment in 2023. Sono improved to 2-0 in the best-of-five series, while LG fell to 0-2 and now faces elimination if they lose Game 3.
Sono’s balanced attack was led by Kevin Kembao, who recorded a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, and MVP Jeong Hyeon-hyun, who contributed 16 points. Their combined efforts helped Sono overcome a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to seize control of the game.
LG started strong, taking a 21-16 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 43-34 by halftime with a 22-18 second quarter. The home team appeared poised for a comeback after stretching their advantage to 14 points early in the third quarter, reaching a 52-38 lead.
Though, Sono responded with a decisive 25-17 third-quarter surge to cut the deficit to just two points heading into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Sono outscored LG 26-16 to seal the victory, completing a remarkable reversal after trailing by as many as 15 points in Game 1 two days earlier.
LG’s efforts were paced by Kal Tamayo and In-deok Jeong, who scored 18 and 15 points respectively, but their combined 15 turnovers proved costly. Sono capitalized on those mistakes to maintain momentum throughout the second half.
The victory continues Sono’s remarkable postseason run, which began with a three-game sweep of fourth-seeded Seoul SK in the quarterfinals despite entering the playoffs as the fifth seed. Their upset of regular-season champion LG in Game 1 on April 23 marked the first time in franchise history they had defeated the league’s top team in a playoff game.
Historical data shows that teams winning both Games 1 and 2 of a KBL semifinal series have advanced to the championship series in 100% of past occurrences (31 out of 31 series), according to league records cited in multiple verified reports.
Sono will seem to close out the series in Game 3 on April 27, 2026, at their home arena in Goyang, scheduled to tip off at 7:00 p.m. Local time. A win would send them to the championship series for the first time ever.
As Sono prepares for a potential historic advancement, LG faces the prospect of an early exit despite winning both the regular season title and home-court advantage in the semifinals.
What’s next: Game 3 of the semifinal series is set for April 27, 2026, at Sono Arena in Goyang. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. KST (10:00 a.m. UTC). Fans can follow live updates through the KBL’s official website and broadcast partners.
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