'First loss in championship final series → home title hopes dashed' KCC coach Lee Sang-min: "We've lost once now... we will finish it in Game 5" [Busan on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

BusanKCC's plan to pop the champagne for a home-court championship was halted by fierce resistance from Goyang Sono. With just one step remaining toward the historic first-ever title for the sixth-ranked regular-season team, coach Lee Sang-min calmly looked ahead to the next challenge.

On the 10th at 4:30 p.m., KCC suffered a narrow 80-81, one-point defeat against Sono in the fourth game of the LG Electronics 2025~2026 KBL Championship Finals held at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium. With the series standing at 3 wins and 1 loss, KCC will attempt to clinch the title again in Goyang in two days.

In a post-game press conference, coach Lee Sang-min said, "It's disappointing that we couldn't fire off the celebratory cannons at home," but added, "We've lost once now. We will regroup and prepare well for the fifth game to be held in two days."

Today's game was a fierce battle. KCC fell behind by as much as 16 points in the first half but managed to stage a comeback, including a 14-0 run in the third quarter alone. However, failing to control Sono's three-pointers in the final moments of the fourth quarter proved painful.

Regarding defensive situations, coach Lee Sang-min noted, "We were focused on defending Sono's pick-and-roll, but in the process, we gave up many opportunities and allowed three-point shots. It seems there is no perfect defense. Considering that Sono is a team that shoots many three-pointers, adjustments will be necessary."

He continued, "Overall, there are still some regrets, but the players really played hard. We just didn't have luck in the first and second quarters. We will finish the series in the fifth game."

Regarding Choi Jun-yong, who fouled out due to foul trouble and committed a foul just before the end of the game that gave Lee Jung-hyun the game-winning free throw, Lee Sang-min said, "Due to switch situations and playing big-man defense near the basket, he picked up many fouls. It was a situation that arose from hard defensive effort, but Jun-yong himself needs to review this point once again."

Today, KCC's key players, including Sean Long (25 points), Heo Hoon (18 points), and Choi Jun-yong (17 points), did their part to tie the game at 80-80, but they narrowly lost in a battle of concentration in the final moments, recording their first series loss.

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*This content was translated by AI.