By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Samjosef Belangel and the Daegu Korea Gas Corporation Pegasus scored a 70-57 victory over the Busan KCC Egis in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) at the Daegu Gymnasium over the weekend.

The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles standout finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal as the Pegasus improved to a 24-21 record.

Andrew Nicholson led the way with a double-double of 31 points and 10 rebounds.

Jeong Seong-woo contributed 12 markers for the fifth-ranked Pegasus.

“The schedule was tough, but I’m grateful that the players defended and pressured as promised from the first quarter,” Pegasus head coach Kang Hyuk said after the game.

“What we’ve been doing since the past came back to life,” he added.

Donovan Smith posted a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds.

Filipino-American Calvin Epistola added one point, three assists and two rebounds as the defending champion Egis fell to 15-29.

Meanwhile, Carl Tamayo finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists as the Changwon LG Sakers (28-16) pulled off a close 84-81 victory over the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (27-17).

On the other hand, Justin Gutang fired 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals as the Seoul Samsung Thunders (15-30) stunned the Suwon KT Sonicboom (26-18), 83-73.

For his part, Ethan Alvano unloaded 23 markers to go with five rebounds and three assists as the Wonju DB Promy (20-25) upended the top-seed Seoul SK Knights (36-9), 88-80.

Kevin Quiambao tallied 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists, but the Goyang Sono Skygunners (14-31) suffered a close 86-84 defeat to the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters (18-27)./ASC, WDJ