"Prodded the beehive": Sonoo, SK sweeps three games to secure 'first-ever 4th-round playoff berth' [Goyang On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Goyang Sono experienced the thrill of advancing to the quarterfinal playoffs for the first time since its founding.

On the 16th, Sono secured a 66-65 victory over Seoul SK in the third game of the 2025–2026 Pro Basketball Playoffs semifinals held at Goyang Sono Arena in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, sweeping the series with three straight wins. The fifth-ranked team in the regular season, Sono, staged a stunning upset by decisively defeating the fourth-ranked SK. Making their debut on the spring basketball stage for the first time just three seasons after their founding in 2023, Sono will face the top-ranked Changwon LG in the semifinals starting on the 23rd.

This series unfolded amid controversy over allegations that SK had deliberately played poorly in order to face Sono in the playoffs. In response, Sono manager Son Chang-hwan (50) vowed at the playoff media day on the 10th that he would strive to prove the truth of the saying, "You shouldn't have meddled with Sono; you've poked a hornet's nest," and he demonstrated that this was no empty boast within just three games.

The first quarter saw Son take a 22-18 lead amid Cam'byo's outstanding performance. Cam'byo scored the game's first points with a two-point shot just 19 seconds into the match and followed up with consecutive three-pointers to tie and then take the lead while trailing 2-5. While Cam'byo scored 13 points in the first quarter, including three three-pointers, Son extended their lead to as much as 16-7, a nine-point margin.

The second quarter was a tightly contested battle marked by repeated ties and lead changes. SK took the lead at 23-22 with a three-point shot by Daniel and a two-point shot by Ahn Young-jun. However, Sono regained the lead at the 4th-minute mark with a three-pointer by Lee Jae-do, making it 27-25. With 1 minute and 28 seconds remaining, Lee Jung-hyun scored a two-point basket, extending the lead to 32-20, and SK closed the first half with a two-point advantage.

In the second half, Sono's offense intensified. With the score tied at 32-32, Kemba Woo made all three free throws, and Knight followed with two consecutive two-point field goals. Shortly thereafter, Lee Jung-hyun hit a three-pointer, extending Sono's lead to 42-35.

Kembao hit a three-pointer with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter, extending Son's lead to 51-41, or 10 points. The third quarter ended with Son ahead 54-45, a nine-point margin.

In the final quarter, with seven minutes remaining, Knight's dunk shot propelled Sono to an 11-point lead, their largest margin of the game, at 58-47. SK fought back with three-pointers from Tolentino and Ahn Young-jun to narrow the gap to 53-58, but Sono extended their lead again with consecutive baskets from Knight and Lee Jung-hyun.

With 1 minute and 25 seconds remaining, SK's Ahn Young-jun made only one of two free throws, tying the score at 62-62. With 53.4 seconds left, SK's Kim Nak-hyun had another free-throw opportunity, converting just one to give SK the lead. However, Sono secured a dramatic one-point victory with a basket by Knight with 4.3 seconds remaining, as the score stood at 64-65.

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*This content was translated by AI.