"It's all because of Choi Jun-yong," Heo Hoon's affectionate shot: "We must hard-carry in Game 4" [Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.

Heo Hoon (31, Busan KCC), who completed a stunning comeback with a precise lob pass, vowed to sweep the Championship Finals.

On the 9th, in the third game of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball Championship Finals held at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium, Heo Hoon delivered a stellar performance with 16 points and 10 assists, recording a double-double against Goyang Sono.

That day, Heo Hoon delivered a decisive pass that led to Sean Long's game-winning free throw with just one second remaining, propelling his team to an 88-87 victory.

Heo Hoon expended energy on defense, tightly guarding opposing main ball-handlers from the quarterfinals against Wonju DB, and has continued his flawless performance in the Championship Finals, averaging 14.3 points, 10.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across three games.

A first career championship is within reach. Heo Hoon, who shone as the Regular Season MVP (2019-2020) and was selected to the Best Five twice (2019-2020, 2020-2021), had never before come close to the Championship Finals trophy.

In a post-game interview, Heo Hoon said, "We won in a truly dramatic fashion. It seems we put on an entertaining game in front of many fans," but added, "As a player, I regret that we almost lost a game that should have been easy to win because we didn't focus until the end. We will improve on that and finish the series tomorrow."

The most thrilling moment was undoubtedly two seconds before the end. Although Lee Jung-hyun scored the go-ahead basket to put the score at 86-87, Heo Hoon delivered a precise pass over Sean Long's head as he drove to the basket after the final timeout. Heo Hoon said, "I thought the pass went in the moment I threw it. It would have been great if Sean Long had just made it, but getting him to the free-throw line made the game tense," laughing as he added, "I was worried because he's not a strong free-throw shooter, but he's a player with significant big-game experience, so I think he focused and made it."

Regarding his close friend Choi Jun-yong, who was in foul trouble in the second quarter and was forced to leave the game with five fouls in the early fourth quarter, Heo Hoon made his signature joke. Heo Hoon said, "Honestly, the reason things turned out this way today is all because of Choi Jun-yong. Choi Jun-yong is particularly weak in 2 o'clock games. He seems like he hasn't fully woken up, and his body isn't even firing." He continued, "Still, thanks to that, I got to rest early alone, so tomorrow, even if one of my knees gives out, I absolutely must hard-carry."

That day, Sono deployed full-court pressure against Heo Hoon, assigning players such as Kim Jin-yu and Choi Seung-wook to guard him. Heo Hoon analyzed, "Opponents stuck with me full-court from the start to the end of the game, wondering what happened today. I expended a lot of energy trying to break through." He added, "It's tough enough just trying to break the defense, but with screens coming three or four times every time I attack, it's definitely difficult. I think I need to play a bit more intelligently tomorrow."

Regarding his chemistry with KCC head coach Lee Sang-min, Heo Hoon said, "The coach is a master. It must not be easy with so many players with strong personalities, but he always communicates and shows consideration. We are players who drift further apart if we try to force them, and he knows that well." He continued, "Even though the opposing team noticed the final play and was trying to stop Sean Long, trusting the coach's instruction and launching the ball proved effective."

When asked about his ambition for the Championship Finals MVP, Heo Hoon emphasized, "I respect whoever receives it. KCC is a team where no one can be left out. Song Gyo-chang, who guarded Kevin Kambeo in Games 1 and 2, and Heo Woong, who dedicated himself on defense, among others, all deserve it. My priority is for the team to win."

Although only one win remains for the championship, there is no room for complacency. When Heo Hoon joined KCC, he set winning the championship as his goal. Heo Hoon said, "We haven't won the championship yet. I don't believe in 100% certainty. We won't know until tomorrow's game is over," but added, "It feels like the time I've spent playing basketball is being rewarded. Today, I'll go to the sauna, chat with teammates, discuss tactics, and recover. Tomorrow, I will definitely lift the trophy in front of Busan fans."

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*This content was translated by AI.