The Anyang JungKwanJang Red Boosters opened the Korean Basketball League season with a hard-fought 75-72 victory over the Suwon KT Sonicboom, edging a tight contest that stayed undecided until the final possession. In a game billed as part of the KBL Open Match Day, the Red Boosters leaned on disciplined half-court execution and a decisive late run to protect home advantage inside their own arena.

Match Overview

Neither side managed to build a comfortable cushion across four quarters. Anyang led by a slender margin at the break, Suwon answered with a stronger third period, and the fourth quarter turned into a possession-by-possession grind. The final three-point margin was the largest lead either team held in the closing minutes, underlining just how finely balanced the matchup was from tip-off to buzzer.

• Final score: Anyang JungKwanJang Red Boosters 75, Suwon KT Sonicboom 72
• Competition: Korean Basketball League – Open Match Day
• Date: September 25, 2026
• Result: Home win decided by a single late surge

How Anyang Won It

The Red Boosters' path to victory was built on defense rather than a scoring explosion. Anyang kept the tempo controlled, forced Suwon into contested jump shots late in the shot clock, and refused to give up easy transition baskets. That approach paid off in the closing stretch, when the Sonicboom's offense stalled and Anyang converted crucial stops into points at the other end.

Offensively, Anyang spread the workload. Rather than relying on a single dominant scorer, the Red Boosters moved the ball patiently, attacked mismatches inside, and punished Suwon's help defense with timely kick-out passes. Free throws in the final minute proved the difference, as Anyang calmly extended a one-possession game into a three-point cushion.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived in the fourth quarter, when Anyang strung together a sequence of defensive stands capped by a momentum-swinging basket that pushed the home crowd to its feet. Suwon had chances to respond but saw a potential game-tying attempt rim out in the dying seconds, sealing the result.

• A fourth-quarter run from Anyang turned a narrow deficit into a lead the team never surrendered.
• Suwon's three-point shooting kept the game close, but late cold stretches proved costly.
• Clutch free-throw shooting from the Red Boosters closed out the win in the final minute.

Tactical Story

Suwon KT Sonicboom came into the game looking to push the pace and generate early offense, and their best stretches came when they did exactly that. The Sonicboom found success driving into the paint and drawing fouls, keeping the game level through the middle quarters. However, Anyang's ability to slow the game down and execute in the half court gradually took the rhythm away from the visitors.

The Red Boosters' defensive rotations were the standout feature of the night. By cutting off driving lanes and contesting perimeter shots, Anyang forced Suwon into lower-percentage attempts during the decisive final period. On the other end, Anyang's patience against Suwon's switching defense created second-chance opportunities and open looks from the corners.

Standout Performers

Anyang's backcourt controlled the tempo effectively, managing shot selection and limiting turnovers during the highest-pressure moments of the fourth quarter. The frontcourt contributed on the glass, winning key rebounds that denied Suwon extra possessions. For the Sonicboom, the guard line kept the offense afloat with aggressive penetration, while their big men battled on the boards to keep the game within reach.

Season Impact

Opening the campaign with a win gives the Red Boosters early momentum and a valuable head-to-head edge over a Suwon side that figures to be a direct competitor in the standings. A three-point result in the first meeting of the season could matter significantly when tiebreakers are calculated later in the year.

For Suwon KT Sonicboom, the defeat is a narrow one that offers plenty of encouragement. The Sonicboom proved they can trade blows with one of the league's established home powers, and their defensive effort for three quarters suggests the loss was a matter of execution in the final minutes rather than a gap in quality.

What's Next

Both clubs will look to build on this opening-night performance as the KBL schedule accelerates. Anyang will aim to carry its late-game composure into the next fixture, while Suwon will focus on tightening its half-court offense and closing out tight fourth quarters. The Red Boosters take the first chapter of this season series, 75-72, with the rematch already circled on the calendar.