The Goyang Sono Skygunners opened the Korean Basketball League season with a statement performance, defeating the Seoul SK Knights 99-86 at home on Thursday, September 24, 2026. A balanced scoring effort and a decisive third-quarter run carried the Skygunners to a 13-point win over one of the KBL's most consistent title contenders, giving the Goyang crowd an early reason to believe in a deeper playoff push this season.

Match Overview

The game tipped off at 15:30 local time on Korean Basketball League Open Match Day, with both clubs fielding new-look rotations after the offseason. Goyang Sono controlled the tempo from the opening minutes, pushing the ball in transition and attacking the rim before Seoul SK's half-court defense could set. The Knights stayed within reach through the second quarter, leaning on their veteran backcourt and physical interior play, but the Skygunners' depth proved decisive after halftime.

Sono finished with five players in double figures, a clear sign of the ball movement that defined their night. Seoul SK, by contrast, leaned heavily on its two primary scorers, and the drop-off when the bench rotated in was the difference in the final margin.

Key Moments

• First quarter: Goyang Sono came out aggressive, scoring early in transition and building a narrow but controlled lead behind efficient three-point shooting.
• Second quarter: Seoul SK clawed back with a mid-quarter run, briefly cutting the deficit to a single possession before the Skygunners answered with a 7-0 spurt before the break.
• Third quarter: The swing stretch of the game. Sono opened the half with a sustained run, extending the lead into double digits and forcing the Knights into uncomfortable, contested jump shots.
• Fourth quarter: Seoul SK made one final push, but Goyang's half-court execution and free-throw shooting in the closing five minutes shut the door on any comeback.

Tactical Story

Goyang Sono's game plan revolved around pace and paint touches. By getting into their offense early in the shot clock, the Skygunners forced Seoul SK's bigs into help situations, which opened up kick-out three-pointers and second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Defensively, Sono switched aggressively on screens and dared the Knights' role players to beat them from the perimeter — a gamble that paid off as Seoul shot poorly from deep in the second half.

Seoul SK's counter was to slow the game down and pound the ball inside, a strategy that worked in spurts but required too much isolation play. Turnovers in the third quarter turned into easy transition points for Goyang, and once the Skygunners had a double-digit cushion, they were content to trade baskets and manage the clock.

Standout Players

• Goyang Sono Skygunners: A commanding two-way performance in the frontcourt anchored the win, with strong rebounding and interior finishing, while the backcourt pairing of Lee Jung-hyun and Jeon Seong-hyun dictated pace and created open looks for teammates.
• Seoul SK Knights: The veteran leaders kept the Knights competitive, with Jameel Warney doing his usual damage inside and Kim Sun-hyung orchestrating the offense. Their production was not enough to offset a quiet night from the supporting cast.

Season Impact

Opening night results rarely define a KBL season, but the manner of this win matters for Goyang Sono. Beating Seoul SK — a club with a deep playoff pedigree — signals that the Skygunners intend to compete near the top of the standings rather than settle for a mid-table finish. For the Knights, the loss is an early reminder that they will need more consistent bench scoring if they are to challenge for the title again.

The two clubs meet again later in the campaign, and that rematch will carry extra weight. For now, the Skygunners own the head-to-head edge and a 99-86 win to build on.