KT through ‘Bass Ball’ completely defeats LG in the final match…Heo Woong and Heo Hoon’s ‘championship match between brothers’ is a success

Paris Bass. Provided by KBL

In short-term games such as the playoffs, the dependence on aces increases even more than in the regular league. In particular, there are many cases where the so-called ‘play basketball’ works, as was the case with Jared Sullinger in the past.

Suwon KT defeated Changwon LG 75-65 in the 5th game of the 2023-2024 CheongKwanJang Professional Basketball Semifinal Playoffs (best of 5 out of 3) held at Changwon Gymnasium on the 24th and was able to advance to the championship game (best of 7 out of 7). This is because the ‘Bass Ball’ using Paris Bass worked well.

On this day, Bass led KT to victory with a double-double performance, scoring a whopping 40 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. He was responsible for more than half of the team’s goals alone.

LG’s easy victory was expected when LG ran away with a 16-point lead, 40-24, about a minute before the end of the second quarter. However, LG allowed 6 points in 1 minute due to consecutive mistakes by Yang Hong-seok, Yang Jun-seok, and Lee Kwan-hee, giving KT room to rebound in the second half.

Bath had a nervous battle with Assem Marey at the end of the first half and drew a double technical foul, giving Maray his third foul, worrying LG coach Cho Sang-hyun.

Ultimately, Bath exploded in the third quarter. Bass led KT’s counterattack by scoring 16 points alone in the third quarter. The score was tied 49-49 3 minutes and 46 seconds before the end of the quarter, and the game was even reversed 1 minute and 20 seconds before the end of the quarter.

LG, which was dragged after losing its 16-point lead, lost even more energy in the middle of the fourth quarter when Yang Hong-seok and Yoon Won-sang took turns throwing ‘air balls’ that did not even pass the rim. In particular, with 2 minutes left in the game, Moon Jung-hyun, wearing the KT uniform as the overall first pick in the rookie draft, hit a 3-pointer, widening the gap to 10 points, and LG’s will to chase was broken.

Meanwhile, with the victory on this day, the championship match between KT, ranked 3rd in the regular league, and Busan KCC, ranked 5th, was concluded, and the ‘brother match’ between Heo Woong (KCC) and Heo Hoon (KT) was concluded. This is the first time the two meet in a championship match.

It has been 17 years since the 2006-2007 season that KT advanced to the championship game. At that time, KT’s hometown was Busan, where KCC is now based. KT has made it to the championship game only twice, then and this season. KT has yet to win the championship.

Song Young-jin, director of Suwon KT. Provided by KBL