'First in History' KCC Miracle, Advances to Championship Finals as 6th-Ranked Team... Intense Battle for the Championship Trophy Against 5th-Ranked Sonowon

*This content was translated by AI.

The miracle of BusanKCC, ranked 6th in the regular season, has reached the championship finals. The promise made by head coach Lee Sang-min, who declared at Media Day that he would challenge the unprecedented record of a 6th-ranked team winning the championship, has come one step closer to reality.

On the 30th, KCC defeated Anyang Jeonggwanjang 84-67 in the fourth game of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball Quarterfinal Playoffs (PO, best-of-five) held at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium.

With this victory, KCC secured a 3-1 series record and claimed the ticket to the championship finals, where Goyang Sonowon awaits.

There has never been a case in KBL history where a 6th-ranked team in the regular season won the championship finals. KCC had previously written a drama of advancing to the playoffs as the 5th-ranked team in the 2023-2024 season and lifting the championship trophy. This season, despite starting from the lower 6th rank, the team succeeded in advancing to the championship finals once again.

KCC shone with balanced performances from its starters. Choi Jun-yong delivered a strong two-way performance with 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Sean Long dominated the paint with 22 points and 15 rebounds, recording a double-double. Heo Woong (15 points) and Heo Hoon (12 points, 6 assists) also ignited their scoring offense at critical moments to lead the team to victory. Jeonggwanjang's Heo Seung-hee (12 points) and Byun Jun-hyeong (13 points) fought hard but were unable to prevent the team's defeat.

KCC seized control from the start of the game. In the first quarter, Sean Long's consecutive scores and Heo Woong's three-pointers opened up a 17-6 lead. KCC ended the first quarter with a 20-15 lead. In the second quarter, the offensive firepower of Choi Jun-yong and Heo Hoon exploded. Following Choi Jun-yong's three-pointer and Heo Hoon's consecutive five points, KCC closed the first half with a 45-35 lead, a 10-point margin.

The tide of the game turned sharply in the third quarter. While KCC scored nine points early in the quarter, Jeonggwanfang remained silent without scoring a single point. To make matters worse, Jeonggwanjang's key player Lens Avando was ejected with five fouls in the middle of the third quarter, adding another variable. Jeonggwanjang struggled to score its first points until just 2 minutes and 29 seconds before the end of the quarter thanks to a free throw by Jeon Seong-hyun, while KCC extended its lead to 63-46.

KCC's offensive pressure did not stop in the fourth quarter. With four minutes remaining in the game, Sean Long sank consecutive three-pointers, pushing the score to 80-62, an 18-point lead, effectively sealing the victory. KCC then maintained its lead with a relaxed game management to close out the match.

Having written the best scenario of securing a spot in the championship finals at home, KCC will now face Sonowon, who finished first in the standings, in the finals after defeating ChangwonLG with three consecutive wins.

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*This content was translated by AI.