The Busan KCC Aegis of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) were unable to get out of a three-game losing streak due to poor perimeter defense despite the return of their ace, Choi Jun-yong, from injury.
The Busan KCC Aegis of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) fell into a three-game losing streak after losing to the Sono in the 2023-2024 regular season at Sono Arena in Goyang on Wednesday. From left, Chung Chang-young Choi Jun-yong Johnson. Courtesy of KCC Aegis
KCC lost 84-93 against the Goyang Sono Skynuggers in the first round of the 2023-2024 Korean Basketball League (KBL) Regular Season on Wednesday at Goyang Sono Arena. With the loss, KCC, which was considered a favorite to win the title, suffered its third straight defeat, starting with a loss against Anyang on the 7th. With the loss, the team dropped to 2-4 and eighth place in the league.
Alize DeShawn Johnson struggled on the night, recording a double-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in 34 minutes of action, but KCC’s defensive woes were exposed against Sono, who took advantage of their outside shooting. SONO’s Lee Jung-hyun scored a whopping 29 points on the day, including six three-pointers.레모나토토 주소
KCC failed to turn the tide despite having Choi Jun-yong back from injury. Choi vented his frustration over his absence by playing 22 minutes and 52 seconds in his return, recording 22 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots.
Choi, who joined KCC as a free agent before the season, had been sidelined for the regular season after injuring his adductor muscle in a cup competition prior to the opening game. Despite being a long 2-meter forward, his best attributes are his excellent ball-handling skills and his fast-paced offense.
Choi stepped onto the court in the second quarter and made both free throws to score the first points of his comeback. He also completed an end-to-end three-point play to energize the team. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Choi scored 10 points on his own to help KCC pull within one point of SONO.
The teams went into halftime tied on the day. In the second quarter, both teams traded baskets and the game remained tight until back-to-back baskets by Choi Hyun-min and Lee Jung-hyun gave KCC a six-point lead to end the first quarter. At one point in the second quarter, SONO took an 11-point lead thanks to Jarrod Johnson. However, KCC cut the deficit to one possession (offense tied at one shot) with six straight points from Choi Jun-yong in the final minute of the first half. Johnson then tied the game at 48-48 with four seconds left in the second quarter.
KCC was unable to capitalize on Lee’s one-man show in the third quarter. KCC responded with two points from Lee Ho-hyun just over a minute into the third quarter. However, four consecutive three-pointers by Lee extended the lead to 12 points.
In the fourth quarter, KCC started to pull away with a free throw by Choi Joon-yong and cut the deficit to four points. However, back-to-back three-pointers by Jarrod Johnson and Hovin Han sealed the deal for KCC.
Article provided by The Korea Times