After a tough Game 4 loss, Carl Tamayo and the Changwon LG Sakers look to regroup and finish the KBL Finals in Game 5 against the resurgent Seoul SK Knights.
Carl Tamayo and the Changwon LG Sakers look to regroup and close out the 2024–25 KBL Finals as they head into a pivotal Game 5 against the Seoul SK Knights on Tuesday, May 13.
After dominating the first three games of the series behind Tamayo’s consistent scoring brilliance, the LG Sakers were handed a reality check in Game 4.
Seoul, facing elimination, played with renewed urgency and clamped down defensively to deliver a convincing 73-48 win, denying Changwon of a sweep.
[ALSO READ: SK Knights avoid KBL Finals sweep with Game 4 win over Carl Tamayo's LG Sakers]
It was a tough night for Tamayo, who was held to just 7 points on 1-of-8 shooting—his lowest scoring output in the Finals—after averaging 23.3 points in the first three games.
The Filipino forward was also limited to under 22 minutes of action as the LG Sakers struggled to find rhythm.
Now with the series at 3-1, Changwon will have another opportunity to seal the title in Game 5, but the no. 2 LG Sakers will need Tamayo to rediscover his scoring touch and return to the form that made him the breakout star of the Finals.
[ALSO READ: SJ Belangel believes Carl Tamayo can win Finals MVP as first KBL title looms for LG Sakers]
Assem Marei and Yu Ki-sang, who led the supporting cast earlier in the series, will also be expected to step up alongside Tamayo as the LG Sakers try to win their first title at Seoul's home court.
Meanwhile, Juan Gomez de Liaño and the SK Knights have gained new life and hope to build on the momentum from Game 4 to extend the series further.
The SK Knights, the top seed in the regular season, showed flashes of their elite form in the bounce-back win and will look to continue disrupting Tamayo’s rhythm.
Tip-off for Game 5 is set for 6:00 p.m. (Manila time), with the KBL championship still within reach for Tamayo and the LG Sakers.
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]