“It’s good that it ended in 3 games” (SK coach Jeon Hee-chul)
“I’m sorry to the fans who expected it” (LG coach Cho Sang-hyun)
Seoul SK held the 2022-2023 SKT A-Dot Pro Basketball Quarterfinals Playoff 3 at Jamsil Student Gymnasium on the 18th. In the second match, they defeated Changwon LG 85-84. Following the 6th round of the regular league (9 wins) and the 6 playoffs (3 wins), the 4 playoffs also won 3 games. Reached the championship match for two years in a row.
Jamil Warney (199cm, C) and Kim Seon-hyung (187cm, G) shook the opponent’s defense from the beginning. Warney widened Warney’s attack space with a hook shot in the paint zone or a goal under the goal, and Kim Seon-hyeong scored three points after joining the fast break. Also, all SK players shook the LG defense with a quick attack.
SK’s strategy worked well from the beginning. SK, who always lost the first quarter, started the second quarter with a score of 30-14. SK’s momentum did not subside. Rather, it pushed LG harder. Starting with Kim Seon-hyeong and Warney, even Huh Il-young (195cm, F) joined the attack. SK widened the gap with LG by 41-20 in 3 minutes and 43 seconds from the start of the second quarter.
There were times when I paused. This is because LG’s pursuit flow was fierce. However, Warney and Kim Seon-hyeong cut off LG’s blood in the middle. Because the one-two punch held the center, SK did not miss the initiative. The third quarter ended 73-66.
SK won by one point until 20 seconds before the end of the game. But I spent the last time calmly. LG overcame the foul strategy well, and Kim Seon-hyung threw the ball into the air 3 seconds before the end of the game. game over. SK laid the foundation to challenge for a second straight victory.
SK coach Jeon Hee-chul said after the game, “The score difference widened in the first half, so the players seemed to be caught off guard. So I pushed the players. It was because we thought the opponent would have a chance, and we had to protect it. But the opponent was good at cutting and subtracting attacks, so we had a hard time.”
After that, “It was fortunate that I did not allow a reversal. We won hard, but it’s good that it ended 3-0. I think the players are great. I want to applaud the players who have endured well for a long time.”
Meanwhile, LG finished the 2022-2023 season with a 3-game losing streak. After the 2013-2014 season, I had to be content with going straight to the playoffs for the first time in 9 years.
Kim Jun-il (200cm, C), who was included in the starting lineup, withdrew due to a knee injury 27 seconds into the game, and Reggie Perry (203cm, C) committed an unsportsmanlike foul while protesting after a failed attack. LG handed over the atmosphere from the beginning. 스포츠토토
LG finished the first quarter with 14-30. The second quarter started in a bad mood. Dante Cunningham (203cm, F) was put in. However, LG could not overcome the disappointment of the first quarter. It was pushed to 20-41 in 3 minutes and 43 seconds from the start of the second quarter.
However, LG formed a chase atmosphere in the second half of the second quarter. I tried to narrow the gap with SK somehow with a stronger defense and more aggressive boxing out. The reason why SK chased 55-56 in the 3rd quarter. But couldn’t get it to reverse. I met the last 10 minutes in thirteen.
Lee Kwan-hee (191cm, G) exploded early in the 4th quarter. He made a jumper from the left wing and scored with a single fast break. LG, on the rise, won by one point until the end. But turnover when it’s crucial. In the end, I couldn’t turn the game around. LG’s 2022-2023 season ended like that.
LG coach Cho Sang-hyun said after the game, “It was a season with a lot of expectations and worries. However, he was well followed by the players. I want to say thank you to the players. Personally, I think I have achieved some success.”
“However, we did not show good performance in the playoffs. I’m sorry to the fans who have been looking forward to it. I checked what I need to prepare for next season. I want to promise to come back with a stronger team.”