Anyang KGC move within one game of KBL league title

Omari Spellman of Anyang KGC, right, in action during a KBL game against the Jeonju KCC Egis on Monday at Anyang Gymnasium in Anyang, Gyeonggi. [NEWS1]

KBL leaders Anyang KGC are one win away from securing the 2022-23 league title after a victory over the Jeonju KCC Egis on Monday at home in Anyang, Gyeonggi.

KGC beat the Egis 98-74 in what turned out to be a one-sided game. The league leaders proved why they had been the No. 1 team this season with a dominant performance throughout the game.

KGC were off to a smooth start, grabbing the first quarter with ease, 26-13.

The second quarter was not a problem for the Anyang side either, winning the quarter again to take it to 55-30. Their dominance persisted through the third quarter, making it 79-48.

KGC conceded a few more points in the fourth quarter, but it did not stop them from marking an easy 98-74 victory.

The Anyang side’s Omari Spellman was as aggressive in Monday’s game as he has been throughout the season, scoring 20 points in total. Spellman is the second-highest scorer, having scored 966 points with an average of 19.71 this season.

His teammates Rhenz Abando and Moon Seong-gon also shone in the game, as they both scored 11 points.

Although the Egis lost, their attack was solid, with Ra Gun-ah scoring 16 points, Jeon Jun-beom managing 14 and Kim Ji-wan 12.

The Egis sit in sixth place on the 10-team table as of Tuesday and must secure or raise their position in order to advance to the playoffs.

The top six teams will compete in the playoffs after the regular season, with the third-place team facing off against the sixth-place team and the fourth-place team facing the fifth-place team.

The winner of the first game will advance to the second playoff series to face the runners-up, while the winning team of the latter game will play the league leaders.

The two winners of those games will ultimately face off in the seven-game championship.

KGC, who just need one more win to take the coveted league title, have already secured a place in the playoffs.

The only time KGC have won the league title was in 2017, when they also won the championship.

Although they have secured the league title once, they have been crowned as overall champions three times: In 2012, 2017 and 2021.

The Anyang side will lock in their second league title with two more league games to go, assuming they win their next game against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus on Friday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]