(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Seo Jang-won = Suwon KT, a professional basketball team, won two consecutive games in the KBL Cup and became the first to advance to the semifinals.
KT defeated Changwon LG 76-65 in the second match of Group B of the 2024 DB Insurance KBL Cup held at Jecheon Gymnasium in North Chungcheong Province on the 8th.
KT, who defeated ‘defending champion’ Busan KCC in the first game, won both group stage games with the victory that day, confirmed first place in Group B and advanced to the semifinals.
For KT, captain Heo Hoon led the attack with 26 points, including 4 3-pointers, and Jeremiah Tillman achieved a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
LG (1 loss), which changed its team color by recruiting Doo Kyung-min and Jeon Seong-hyun in the off-season, was frustrated from advancing to the semifinals regardless of the results of the remaining KCC games.
KT, which led 37-30 in the first half thanks to the performances of Heo Hoon and Ha Yoon-ki, allowed LG’s onslaught to catch up in the third quarter, led by former Philippine national team players Carl Tamayo and Jeon Seong-hyun. With 1 minute and 51 seconds left in the third quarter, the score was 49-50.
However, KT, who scored 7 consecutive points at the end of the 3rd quarter and ran away with a 4-point lead, gained momentum in the 4th quarter with consecutive 3-pointers by Lee Yun-ki and Heo Hoon, creating a 10-point gap at 64-54.
With about 2 minutes left in the game, LG went up to 63-68 with Tamayo’s consecutive points, but Heo Hoon’s score and Moon Jeong-hyun’s free throw prevented LG from pursuing and took the victory.
For LG, Tamayo played hard with 18 points and transfer student Doo Gyeong-min had 13 points, but the loss faded.
In the second game of Group D that followed, Seoul SK won 84-75 after a close game against Wonju DB.
Group D contains only SK and DB, so after playing two games against each other, the team that advances to the semifinals will be determined. SK, who suffered a crushing defeat to DB 81-107 in the first game on the 6th, succeeded in avenging themselves in the second game, but failed to advance to the semifinals as they were unable to overcome the 26-point score difference in the first game.
For SK, Jamil Warney played with 26 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Kim Hyung-bin scored 15 points, including 3 3-pointers. Field commander Kim Sun-hyung also succeeded in scoring in double digits with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
After a close battle in the first half, SK entered the second half with a narrow lead of 43-39. They fought back again in the third quarter, and at 62-63, Warney hit a two-pointer, bringing the lead to 64-63. We turned it over and started the 4th quarter.
With about 4 minutes left in the game, SK scored 8 points in a row, starting with Kim Hyung-bin’s 3-pointer, at 73-71, and took the lead by 10 points, 81-71.
DB’s Ethan Albano and Lee Yong-woo scored consecutive goals, but SK scored again when Kim Hyeong-bin hit a 3-pointer.
