Challenging the first record…First win in 5th place KCC vs. first win in the championship KT: ZUM News

Take the first path.

Only two teams remain in professional basketball spring basketball. KT and KCC will play the 2023-2024 CheongKwanJang Professional Basketball Championship (best of 7 games) starting on the 27th. There is only one team that will ascend to the championship throne. The two teams, who had endured fierce competition throughout the season, were about to face a fierce battle for the throne.

KT is challenging its first championship since its founding. So far, we have been particularly weak in spring basketball. It is rare for a player to not only win the championship, but even advance to the championship game. KT was the only team to advance to the championship game in the 2006-2007 season and took second place. At that time, there was a fierce battle with Hyundai Mobis that went all the way to the 7th game, but they were unable to lift the championship trophy. After 17 years, he will challenge for the top spot in spring basketball. Coach Song, who was a player in the first championship game, will once again lead KT to the highest stage.

It wasn’t easy throughout the season. He had severe ups and downs in his performance. Even though they won all 7 games in February, their performance plummeted in March. Even in the playoffs (PO), performance fluctuated. Coach Song achieved a turnaround with bold player selection and led the championship game. His determination, which was unusual for a novice director, stood out.

KCC also experienced twists and turns. Last year, Choi Jun-yong was recruited in the free agent (FA) market, and former Most Valuable Player (MVP) Song Kyo-chang completed his military service. Together with Heo Woong, Lee Seung-hyun, and La Gun-ah, they formed the national team lineup and were called the ‘super team’. Ahead of the season opening, they made a brilliant start by winning the Korea Basketball League (KBL) Cup. However, key players suffered injuries and were unable to use their strength due to uneven performance. They advanced to the playoffs (PO) with 30 wins, 24 losses, and 5th place. At PO, things were completely different. They defeated SK with 3 wins in the 6th round PO and even captured DB, the number one player in the regular league, in the 4th round. KCC advanced to the championship game for the first time in three seasons since the 2020-2021 season. This is the first time since the launch of professional basketball in 1997 that the 5th place team in the regular league advanced to the championship game. While I’m at it, I dream of a rebellion in 5th place. KCC advanced to the championship game for the 11th time in total, including its predecessor Hyundai. The win has not been recorded since 2011. Seeing the summit for the first time in 13 years.

Another record was written as the 3rd and 5th places in the regular league advanced to the championship match. This is the first time that 3rd and 5th place met in the championship match. In addition, for the third time in professional basketball history, a championship game will be held without a regular league first place winner. Even though Mobis (now Hyundai Mobis) in the 2008-2009 season and KT in the 2010-2011 season took first place in the regular league, they failed to advance to the championship game.

Reporter Choi Jeong-seo [email protected]

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