"Honestly, it was so frustrating..." Lee Jung-hyun, the director of Geary's 'Big Explosion', was surprised and said, "MVP is MVP." [the scene of Jamsil]

*This content was translated by AI.

Goyang Sono ace Lee Jung-hyun (27) proved once again why he is the best player in the league. He broke through the opponent's breathtaking intensive checks and showed explosive firepower only in the second half, giving the team a valuable come-from-behind victory.

Sono defeated Seoul SK 80-72 in the second round of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball semifinal playoff held at Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul at 7 p.m. on the 14th. Sono, who won two consecutive away games following the first game, gained momentum by winning a 100% chance of advancing to the semifinals.

Lee Jung-hyun's first half was a thorny road. He was blocked by SK's strong pressure and was tied to seven points with only three shots attempted.

However, the true value of the regular league MVP shone in a crisis situation. Lee Jung-hyun led the 17-0 score run by scoring 12 points, including two 3-pointers, in the third quarter alone. Lee Jung-hyun, who played a total of 37 minutes and 12 seconds on the day, led the team's attack with 22 points and six assists.

The head coach also gave a thumbs-up to the ace's strong performance. Sono coach Son Chang-hwan said, "MVP is MVP. As expected, dignity does not disappear. As I watched it, I was amazed that 'MVP is MVP,' and said, "I think I made Lee Jung-hyun play too much because I was so obsessed with winning."

"I thought SK would come out stronger, unlike the first game, but in reality it was much stronger than that," Lee Jung-hyun said at a press conference after the game. "There were some difficulties in being dragged in the beginning, but it was the driving force that the players said let's go without getting wider."

As for the secret of breaking the silence of the first half and exploding in the second half, he said, "The game is 40 minutes. If you continue to play the same defense, not only me but also my team members will adapt. I definitely thought the opportunity would come, and I believed that if I took that opportunity well, I would be able to ride the atmosphere," he said.

As for rookie Kang Ji-hoon, who scored eight points in the third quarter of the day, he said, "It was the best in the third quarter," and laughed, "If the advantage is as good as the third quarter, it is a talent to cover any regrets." I don't think I'll be scared of any team if I control myself well and run a lot," he encouraged.

In addition, he gave credit to his teammates who are in charge of bad things such as Choi Seung-wook and Kim Jin-yu, saying, "If it's defense, if it's offense, it's really helpful in offense."

Before the start of the third quarter, he thanked Sono fans for their birthday song, which filled the away seats. Lee Jung-hyun said, "I was frustrated that the game didn't go as I wanted in the first half, but I was so grateful and touched that the fans shouted their names," adding, "Now I want to wrap up the series in front of fans who support Game 3 more at home."

Now Lee Jung-hyun's eyes are on Game 3 in Goyang. He said, "I want to finish Game 3 if I feel like it, but basketball doesn't go my way. "I will play with the mindset of starting the first game again," he said. "I will not disappoint my home fans. I will only rejoice today's victory until today," he vowed.

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*This content was translated by AI.