Jeong Hyo-geun hit two foul free throws with 1.6 seconds left in the game to become the come-from-behind hero.
Anyang Jungkwanjang won 74-73 against Suwon KT in the first round of the 2024-2025 KCC Pro Basketball League on Sunday at Jungkwanjang Arena in Anyang. Despite suffering a 31-point defeat against KCC on the 3rd, Bae Byeong-joon (19 points), Michael Young (13 points), and Park Ji-hoon (13 points) did their part in the scoring, and Jung Hyo-geun’s fingertips saved the day in a close game. Jung finished with 10 points and 카지노 사이트 추천 nine rebounds (four offensive) on 63 percent shooting in 34 minutes and 14 seconds.
After the game, captain Jung Hyo-geun, who was named the Player of the Game, said, “We were in a bad mood, but I told the team to focus on winning today because it would lift our mood, and we played well until the end. I’m grateful to all the players.”
Chung led KT steadily throughout the first half and led the game by as many as 18 points at one point. However, KT Hammons and Heo Hoon came alive in the middle of the third quarter, and the team quickly fell behind, ending the third quarter with a 59-57 lead.
Jung said, “I had a three-point chance when I could have extended the lead, but it didn’t go in. I’ve been practicing a lot, but my shooting percentage has been bad lately, and I’m not getting results,” he said. His average field goal percentage this season is 30 percent. That’s not good, to put it bluntly.
However, Jung Hyo-geun was responsible for the game-winner in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. With KT trailing by one point (72-73) with four seconds left in the game, he took a bold offense and drew KT’s Park Jun-young’s fifth foul. He was also given a free throw.
“I didn’t think I was going to take charge, but I saw that both of their defenders were on (Keddie) Lahren. I took a running step, and as expected, the foul call came out,” he recalled. “I knew it was a foul because I had already taken the running step, so I was sure it was a foul and I took the shot. (Park) Ji-hoon came running over excitedly, but I calmed him down and let him settle down. It was very cautious,” he added.
Jung Hyo-geun, who made both free throws, ultimately saved the day.
“He’s not a good free throw shooter, but he made both of them,” said coach Kim Sang-sik. It’s been a long time,” he laughed. His season average free throw percentage is 60 percent.
“As a professional, you have to prove it with results. I was practicing free throws, mid-range, and three-pointers, and I remembered my routine for free throws. Luckily, as the game was delayed, I kept thinking about my rhythm, and the results of my practice came out,” he said, revealing how he was able to stay focused.
Despite having a 37-minute, 14-second scoring advantage, Chung went back and forth between heaven and hell in the fourth quarter.
“When the gap was narrowing, I told the players that it was okay. We had a lot of easy shots and fast breaks that worked, but I told them to rebound and defend first,” he said.
“They implemented all of my suggestions. They didn’t look nervous or push back just because the opponent was chasing them,” he said, expressing his complete trust in his teammates. In fact, Chung was outrebounded 6-13 in the third quarter, her lowest point of the game, but she bounced back in the fourth quarter, pulling down 11 rebounds, two more than her opponent.
With the win, Jung improved to 3-5 on the night. When asked if this was enough to keep going, he said, “We have Samsung next, and if we play our best, we can finish the first round with four wins and five losses. We’re not at a point where we should be too upset or give up,” he said, adding, ”The team is stronger when I’m alive. I have to come out with a mindset to be proud of every game,” he said, adding that he feels responsible as captain.
Chung will host Seoul Samsung on Sept. 9. Samsung also defeated Changwon LG on the 7th, and are looking to build on their win total. In a matchup of two teams desperate for momentum, will Chung be the first to smile as he hopes?