Seoul SK, embroiled in allegations of deliberately losing to secure a favorable playoff bracket, suffered a crushing defeat to Goyang Sono in their first playoff game, facing immediate backlash from their own strategic maneuvering.
SK lost 76-105 to Sono, a 29-point blowout, in Game 1 of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball quarterfinal playoff series (best-of-five) at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul on Sunday. SK was overwhelmed by Sono, the very team they had targeted as a "manageable opponent," surrendering home-court advantage in the playoff series. Historically, teams winning Game 1 in the quarterfinal playoffs advance to the semifinals 91.1% of the time (51 out of 56 occasions), leaving SK with just an 8.9% chance of reaching the Final Four.
Under head coach Jeon Hee-chul, SK has been a "spring basketball powerhouse." Since Jeon took the helm, the team has reached the playoffs for five consecutive seasons. In 13 career playoff appearances, SK has won three championships, and last season advanced to the finals against LG, finishing as runners-up after a hard-fought seven-game series. Yet this same SK team now finds itself at the center of controversy over game management that has drawn sharp criticism from fans during their playoff qualification process.
The controversy erupted during SK's final regular season game against Anyang KGC on January 8. In that match, SK benched most of its starters and displayed lax defense with missed free throws in the closing minutes. Jeers rained down from the stands. Had SK won, they would have faced Busan KCC, anchored by star players Heo Hoon, Heo Woong, and Choi Jun-yong. Suspicions arose that SK deliberately dropped in the standings to face Sono instead, a team SK held a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over during the regular season. SK ultimately lost the game, finished fourth in the regular season, and was matched against fifth-place Sono in the quarterfinals.
Following the game, the Korean Basketball League held its 31st Season 12th Disciplinary Committee meeting on January 10 to review whether the match constituted "insincere game management." The committee fined head coach Jeon 5 million won and issued a formal warning to the SK franchise. Some observers note the controversy could burden the corporate image of parent company SK Group beyond mere game strategy concerns.
Ultimately, SK's calculated move has backfired. Sono pressured SK from the opening tip with aggressive defense and fast-paced offense. SK trailed throughout the entire game, never leading in any quarter, and absorbed a humiliating defeat.