The Ulsan Mobis Phoebus opened their Korean Basketball League campaign with a statement road win, defeating the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus 87-82 at a lively Daegu gymnasium on September 24, 2026. In a game that swung back and forth through three quarters, the visitors found another gear after halftime and then held their nerve at the free-throw line in the closing minutes to secure a hard-earned five-point victory.

It was a result that said as much about Mobis Phoebus's depth as it did about their execution down the stretch. Trailing by three at the first break and struggling to contain Daegu's early energy, the Phoebus turned the contest around with a disciplined third quarter and never surrendered the lead again.

Match Overview

Quarter by Quarter

• Q1: KOGAS Pegasus 22 – 19 Mobis Phoebus
• Q2: KOGAS Pegasus 20 – 23 Mobis Phoebus
• Q3: KOGAS Pegasus 18 – 24 Mobis Phoebus
• Q4: KOGAS Pegasus 22 – 21 Mobis Phoebus

The halftime scoreline of 42-42 told the story of a genuinely even first half. Daegu had the better of the opening exchanges, pushing the tempo and attacking the rim early, while Ulsan slowly settled into their half-court offense and began to convert second-chance opportunities. The decisive shift arrived in the third period, which Ulsan won 24-18 — a six-point swing that ultimately proved to be the margin of victory.

Key Moments

The turning point came midway through the third quarter, when Mobis Phoebus strung together a 10-2 run built on transition baskets and a pair of three-pointers from the wing. That burst turned a narrow deficit into a working lead and forced the Pegasus into a timeout they never fully recovered from.

Daegu refused to fold, however. A late fourth-quarter push cut the gap to three points with under two minutes remaining, and the home crowd sensed a comeback. But the Phoebus answered with composure at the charity stripe, knocking down their free throws in the final minute and forcing Daegu into two hurried, low-percentage attempts that never threatened the result.

Tactical Story

Ulsan's defensive adjustment after halftime was the difference. By switching more aggressively on screens and closing out harder on Daegu's shooters, the Phoebus limited the Pegasus to 40 points across the second half after conceding 42 before the break. On the offensive end, Mobis leaned on patient ball movement, generating open looks from the perimeter and attacking the offensive glass whenever Daegu's big men drifted away from the paint.

Daegu, by contrast, relied heavily on isolation play in the second half. That approach generated points but slowed their rhythm, and their assist-to-turnover ratio dipped after the interval. The Pegasus also struggled to defend the three-point line in the third quarter, which allowed Ulsan to build the cushion they protected until the buzzer.

Standout Performers

• Ulsan Mobis Phoebus: Their backcourt controlled the tempo in the second half, while the frontcourt dominated the boards and converted key second-chance points. Free-throw shooting in the final two minutes was clinical.
• Daegu KOGAS Pegasus: Their leading scorers kept the team in touch throughout, and the bench provided a useful spark in the first half. Rebounding and late-game execution were the main frustrations.

What It Means

An away win on opening day is exactly the kind of foundation Ulsan Mobis Phoebus will have wanted. It sets an early tone of defensive discipline and late-game maturity — two qualities that tend to separate playoff teams from the rest of the pack in the KBL.

For Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, the defeat is a narrow one against a strong opponent, and there were encouraging signs in their first-half performance. Still, the loss highlights areas to address: closing out on shooters, protecting the defensive glass, and finding cleaner looks when the pace slows in the fourth quarter. With the season only beginning, both clubs will take clear lessons from a competitive, well-fought opener.