"0% chance of reaching the semifinals? We'll show 200%." Miracle challenge declared, WonjuDB coach Kim Joo-sung: "I trust my players" [Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.

There is no place to retreat. Facing elimination after losing both the first and second games, WonjuDB coach Kim Joo-sung (47) vowed to mount a counterattack.

DB will face BusanKCC in the third game of the 2025–2026 LG Electronics Pro Basketball 6-team Playoffs, scheduled for 7 p.m. on the 17th at Busan Sajik Gymnasium.

In the history of the 6th-team Playoffs, no team that lost the first two games has ever advanced to the semifinals. Against this backdrop, Coach Kim Joo-sung declared a 'miracle challenge'.

However, DB faces the setback of being unable to use key forward Kang Sang-jae in the match against KCC. In a pre-game interview with KCC, Coach Kim Joo-sung stated, "Kang Sang-jae will not play. I checked with him this morning, and he is in a condition where he cannot even dribble due to wrist pain", and added "that as an ace, he asked him to be with DB at the court today".

In the second game, DB demonstrated its ability to overcome a 15-point deficit, but ultimately fell short in a battle of concentration in the final moments. Despite strong performances from Henry Ellenson with 43 points and Lee Sun-Alvano with 24 points, they could not overcome the critical hurdle. Coach Kim Joo-sung remarked, "In the first game, DB played at 120%. At that time, 30% was lacking. In the second game, we played at 150%, but 50% was still insufficient", and vowed "today we must show 200%. Only by playing a perfect game can we win".

Controlling the firepower of the super team KCC is the top priority. Especially, the Huh Woong and Huh Hun brothers, Choi Jun-yong and Song Gyo-chang, and foreign player Sean Long have been displaying overwhelming firepower in the Playoffs. In response, Coach Kim Joo-sung stated, "KCC is a team that struggles no matter where the attack comes from", and warned "if we accurately execute our responsibilities such as backcourt defense and rebounding, DB is also a team with strength. We will proceed with today's game accordingly".

To date, there has never been a case in KBL history where a team lost both the first and second games of the 6th-team Playoffs and still advanced to the semifinals. Coach Kim Joo-sung noted, "I heard that the probability of the 6th-ranked team in the regular season winning the championship is 0%. This is the same statistic as DB's current challenge to reach the semifinals", and added "that he told the players today's game should not be the end, but the beginning. Given their excellent Playoff performances, he trusts the players even more. He believes that once they overcome this one crisis, positive momentum will emerge".

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*This content was translated by AI.