‘1st and 2nd ranked duo’ Heo Hoon and Yang Hongseok, only one of the two men who watched the KBL summit together 7 years ago smiles [KBL PO]

“(Heo) Hoon, are you ready?”

The 2017 KBL rookie draft held 7 years ago. Suwon KT held the first and second overall picks. After giving Cho Seong-min and a second-round pick to Changwon LG, they received Kim Young-hwan and a first-round pick, and by luck, they got both the first and second picks.

There was no doubt about KT’s choice. Heo Hoon, the best guard in college, and Yang Hongseok, who chose early entry, were both included. KT, which has been in the lower ranks, has acquired two players who can immediately become core power.

Yang Hong-seok, who was selected as the second overall pick at the time, expressed confidence by saying, “Hoon, are you ready?” And in a later interview, Heo Hoon answered, “I’m ready.”

Heo Hoon and Yang Hong-seok grew rapidly with the one-two punch that KT is proud of. From the 2018-19 season to the 2021-22 season, the team advanced to the playoffs in all three seasons except for the 2019-20 season, which ended early due to COVID-19.

In this process, Heo Hoon won the MVP and Yang Hong-seok won the Skill Development Award. And both players were evaluated as the best players in each position, to the extent that they were selected as one of the best five.

However, the bar for spring basketball was higher than expected. Heo Hoon and Yang Hong-seok have not been winners even once in three spring basketball games. In the 2018-19 season’s semifinal playoffs, they lost to LG with 2 wins and 3 losses, and both the 2020-21 season’s semifinals and the 2021-22 season’s semifinals fell to Anyang KGC (currently CheongKwanJang).

Afterwards, Heo Hoon left to become managing director, and Yang Hong-seok transferred to LG in the summer of 2023, ending the relationship between the two players. In the end, Heo Hoon advanced to the upper round for the first time by beating Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the quarterfinals of this season’s playoffs. This is something that Yang Hong-seok has not yet achieved.

The two men, who were at the top of the KBL together seven years ago, are now competing for the championship game. And they are fighting hard throughout the semifinal playoffs, with 2 wins and 2 losses, and a death match ahead.

Heo Hoon recorded 18 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal in the last 4 games, quickly erasing the disappointment shown in games 1, 2, and 3. Ace’s revival is a very welcome event for KT.

Yang Hong-seok also rebounded. In Game 4, he was the only one in LG who did his part with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. Like Heo Hoon, his resurgence after not doing well throughout games 1, 2, and 3 was certainly impressive.

Heo Hoon and Yang Hong-seok were far from the championship match. Now, one of the two players can absolutely stand on the final stage. The death match, where you have to give everything, will be held in Changwon on the 24th. A beautiful day for some and cruel for others dawned.

Min Jun-gu, MK Sports reporter