Heo Woong and Heo Hoon laugh at their first sibling match in the professional basketball championship game, “It’s an honor for our family, but we can’t give up the championship trophy.”

‘Basketball President’ Heo Hoon (left), the son of former basketball team coach Heo Jae, and Heo Woong are looking at each other with the trophy between them at the media day for the professional basketball championship game held at the KBL Center in Seoul on the 25th. yunhap news

“Your father is the happiest.”

Brothers Heo Woong (31, KCC) and Heo Hoon (29, KT), who faced each other in the final game of spring basketball, did not hide their smiles.

It was natural that the two sons of former national team coach Heo Jae (58), the ‘basketball president’, would face off against each other for the first time in a professional basketball championship game between brothers.

This is not the result I expected. For the first time in the KBL, which was launched in 1997, a miracle occurred in which the 5th place in the regular league (Busan KCC) advanced to the championship game, and the 3rd place Suwon KT produced a thrilling comeback in the semifinal playoffs.

Fans are also excited because Heo Woong and Heo Hoon are superstars who lead professional basketball. In the 2021-2022 season All-Star Game, the games were divided into ‘Team Heo Woong’ and ‘Team Heo Hoon’, and in this season’s All-Star Game, Heo Woong ranked first in fan voting and Heo Hoon ranked second in fan voting, so they are so popular.

The two naturally became the main characters of the media day for the championship game held at the KBL Center in Seoul on the 25th. Heo Woong and Heo Hoon said, “Father is the happiest. “It is an honor for our family to be the protagonists of the first sibling match in the championship game,” he said, adding, “We will show a great fight without any injuries.”

But the warm atmosphere of the sibling rivalry ended here. In the world of competition, a declaration of war was made by spreading four fingers as if there were no older or younger brothers. The idea is to end the championship match, which is a best-of-seven series, with a best-of-seven win.

Heo Woong said, “After (Heo) Hoon confirmed his victory with a come-from-behind victory yesterday, he was so excited that the KakaoTalk room was on fire. I’m glad to receive attention for the sibling match, but I will win (in the championship match) without letting go of my nerves.” “I want to finish in (my hometown) Busan with four wins,” he pledged.

Heo Hoon’s counterattack was also formidable. Heo Hoon said, “This is his first championship match, so he is more desperate to win than anyone else. I don’t want to lose even once to KCC (where my brother plays). I will finish it quickly and raise the trophy. “Even if he goes 1-on-1 with his brother, he’s just an opposing player,” he said.

The commanders were also busy protecting their brothers. KCC coach Jeon Chang-jin said, “I’m upset because good Woong always gives in to bad Hoon. He said, “I hope you forget that I am his younger brother in this championship match,” and KT coach Song Young-jin said, “Hoon is always confident. (Moon) He emphasized, “I hope that Seong-gon can be saved as well.”

If KCC wins this championship match, it will be their 6th championship in 13 years, and KT will reach the top for the first time. The record against opponents in the regular league this season was tied at 3 wins and 3 losses.

The two teams are intertwined not only with sibling rivalry, but also with hometown issues.

This is because Busan, the current hometown of KCC, is the old home of KT, where it was loved by fans until 2021. Coach Jeon also has a relationship with Coach Song, who took over the baton of KT from the 2009 to 2015 seasons when KT was based in Busan.

Heo Hoon said, “There will still be KT fans in Busan,” and pledged, “I will do my best to make a feast that will satisfy both teams’ fans.”