LG Sakers Conclude Okinawa Training Camp, Focus Shifts to EASL Preparation
OKINAWA, JAPAN – The Changwon LG Sakers completed a three-day training camp in Okinawa, Japan, on Wednesday, culminating in a pair of practice games against the B. League’s ryukyu Golden Kings. The team departed for Taiwan on Thursday to continue preparations for the upcoming East Asian Super League (EASL).
The Okinawa camp, held from November 3rd to 5th, served as a critical chance for the Sakers to develop depth beyond their core players and experiment with strategies tailored for the EASL’s unique two-foreign-player rule.While the first game against Ryukyu on November 4th exposed weaknesses in rebounding and ball security - resulting in an 18-turnover performance – the Sakers demonstrated betterment in their second, private matchup on November 5th.
“We were pushed out in the foreign player battle and it seemed we were lacking in basic areas like rebounds,” said LG head coach Cho Sang-hyun following the first game. The team addressed these issues in the second contest, securing more defensive rebounds and showcasing a more stable performance. Forward Maray contributed 13 points and 14 rebounds in 26 minutes and 34 seconds during the second game.
Coach Cho also indicated plans to utilize Filipino forward Carl Tamayo as a versatile swingman, capable of playing both shooting guard and forward positions. Domestic player Yang Joon-seok led LG’s scoring in the second game with 11 points in just under 29 minutes of play. “We need to prepare for playing with two foreign players in EASL,” Cho stated. “We are also preparing to use Carl Tamayo as a swingman for shooting guards and forwards.”
