“I’m very proud of the players” (LG coach Cho Sang-hyun)
“They did their best” (KCC head coach Jeon Chang-jin)
Changwon LG defeated Busan KCC 101-92 in the regular season finale of the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball League at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan on Feb. 22. It was their ninth straight win. The team consolidated second place with a 34-17 record and improved to 4-2 against KCC this season.
While Asem Marey (202 cm, C) didn’t provide much in the way of offense, Yang Hong-seok (195 cm, F) played well, and substitute Justin Gutang (188 cm, F) was able to get inside and outside.
Above all, LG’s offense was organized. On defense, they blocked KCC’s fast breaks well, and on offense, they attacked KCC’s defense with cut-and-sub moves.
However, LG ended the first quarter with a score of 23-24. The passes were blocked by KCC’s defense, and the fast breaks and second-chance points, which are LG’s strengths, were not created. Without their advantages, LG fell behind 23-31 just 1 minute and 33 seconds into the second quarter.
However, LG is a high-energy team with a lot of resources. Based on their high energy and strong physicality, they pushed KCC players away from the rim and away from the perimeter. They also created chances with multiple screens in the offensive zone. We gradually closed the gap with KCC.
Lee Jae-do (180 cm, G) and Jung Hee-jae (196 cm, F) combined for four three-pointers in the first three minutes and two seconds of the third quarter. Gutang and Yoo Yoo-sang (188 cm, G) also joined the three-point streak. LG pulled within 78-72. After turning the game around, LG pushed harder in the fourth quarter. The team was just one step away from clinching second place.
LG head coach Cho Sang-hyun said after the game, “I’m very proud of my players. Despite being down in the first half to a strong team in KCC, they showed their focus from the third quarter. We were able to get a good result because of our defense,” he said.
“After halftime, I reprimanded the defense. I told them, ‘Cut down on their fast break points,’ and (Lee) Jado hit a lot of threes in the third quarter, and I think that was the difference in the game.”
KCC, on the other hand, hasn’t won three in a row and finished the best-of-three series against LG with two wins and four losses. However, they are still in fifth place (27 wins and 23 losses).
KCC didn’t play as fast as they did in the previous game. However, they responded to LG’s defense with organized and organic moves. They were evenly 메이저사이트 matched with LG for the first five minutes of the game. They maintained the good momentum until the end of the first quarter. The first quarter ended with a score of 24-23.
Substitute Calvin Epistola (181 cm, G) also brought good energy. He pressured LG’s ball handlers from the frontcourt and scored points with three-pointers and fast breaks. This allowed KCC to take a 31-23 lead just 1:33 into the second quarter.
Gaining confidence, Epistola also showed a wider vision. He passed to Lee Geun-hwi (187 cm, G), who was playing opposite him. He assisted Lee for a three-pointer. Seeing this, KCC coach Jeon Chang-jin stretched his right index finger in the air. It was a sign of joy.
However, KCC did not take the lead. They shot 3-of-7 from three-point range in the third quarter alone. As a result, they fell behind 72-78. Once down, KCC was unable to recover from the deficit. A chance for a third straight win was wasted. The dream of a fourth place finish was also dashed.
KCC head coach Jeon Chang-jin said after the game, “We tried our best, but LG shot nearly 50 percent from three. Even though we prepared a defense that doesn’t allow 3-pointers, we lost the game because of 3-pointers,” he said.
He went on to say, “I think the reason why they shot so many threes in the third quarter was because of their physicality. There was also the difference in personnel available. The players did their best anyway.”