CHANGWON, South Korea — Goyang Sono escaped with both a Game 1 win and a sigh of relief.

Sono defeated Changwon LG 69-63 on April 23 at Changwon Gymnasium in the opening game of the 2025-26 KBL semifinals, improving its odds of advancing to the championship series to 78.6% (44 of 56 instances).

But the result wasn’t the only storyline.

Kevin Quiambao gave the team a scare in the fourth quarter after colliding with a defender and going down while clutching his knee. Though he showed toughness by returning to the floor, the moment raised immediate concern.

Follow-up evaluations, however, brought encouraging news.

Quiambao experienced discomfort in his calf, but the injury is not considered serious. A team official said he is expected to be available moving forward, adding that “there are no major concerns.”

Sono is also monitoring other players dealing with lingering issues.

Lim Dong-seop (back) and Kim Jin-yu (ankle) are managing chronic discomfort that has persisted throughout the season, rather than new injuries. Their availability will continue to be assessed on a day-to-day basis.

The bigger question mark is Choi Seung-wook.

Choi, who had been dealing with abdominal pain, was diagnosed with a minor tear in his external oblique muscle. His status for Game 2 will be determined after further evaluation on the morning of April 25.

With Game 1 secured, Sono now turns its focus to maintaining momentum — while keeping a close eye on its health heading into Game 2.

By Seonghan Hong | Photo by Bok-ju Moon

This translation was reviewed with the assistance of AI.

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