"The entire hotel floor was filled with profanity..." In a moment of depression following a heartbreaking comeback loss, 'Captain' Jung Hee-jae's leadership shone brightly [Busan Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Goyang Sono's 'miracle run,' which had been pushed to the brink, did not stop. At the center of it all was 14-year veteran Jung Hee-jae, who burned with fighting spirit on the court despite not being in perfect physical condition.

On the 10th at 4:30 p.m., at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan, Sono defeated Busan KCC 81-80 in the fourth game of the LG Electronics 2025~2026 KBL Championship Series, securing their first series victory.

That day, Jung Hee-jae played for 13 minutes and 12 seconds, delivering a crucial three-pointer and demonstrating leadership that united the players, while also contributing with dedicated defense to secure the team's one-point victory.

In the earlier second game, Jung Hee-jae played for 24 minutes and 34 seconds, making four of ten three-point shots to score 12 points.

After the game, Jung Hee-jae said, "Actually, we weren't in a situation where we were down 3-0, but due to inexperience and being overwhelmed by the opponent's momentum, the games kept going wrong. However, starting from the third game, we began to find answers, and capitalizing on that crack led to today's good result," sharing his thoughts on the victory.

Especially after the painful comeback loss in the third game, Jung Hee-jae's leadership shone as he worked to stabilize the team's atmosphere. Jung Hee-jae recalled, "The atmosphere was so low that the entire hotel floor was filled with frustrated curses and sighs. I thought I couldn't let myself get down, so I deliberately joked with the younger players to try to lift the mood."

Continuing, Jung Hee-jae said, "Seeing the overwhelming support from the fans today made me emotional. I think this is the first time in my 14-year career that I've received such support," expressing his deep gratitude to the fans.

Regarding the pressure of facing KCC, the 'super team,' Jung Hee-jae was resolute. He stated, "I acknowledge the difference in name value, but basketball is not an individual sport; it is a team sport. If five players, or up to 12, come together as a unified team to compete against another team, there is definitely a chance to win," emphasizing the point.

On the unprecedented 'reverse sweep' in KBL history, he showed a determination that went beyond probability. Jung Hee-jae said, "The probability of a sixth-place team winning or Sono achieving a reverse sweep is the same: 0%. Now, rather than calculating probabilities, history will be decided by who runs one step further and who is more desperate."

He also expressed gratitude for the full support of the club's management office and the leadership of head coach Son Chang-hwan. Jung Hee-jae said, "From the chairman down to the management office, they showed consideration by telling us to just focus on playing basketball well, and I feel fortunate that we were able to repay that." Additionally, regarding Coach Son Chang-hwan, who had told him to "make things harder for me," Jung Hee-jae smiled and said, "I hope the coach, who will watch video all day on the bus after the game, will have to work a little harder."

Having already heard the news that the fifth game was sold out, Jung Hee-jae said, "I'm truly glad that fans won't receive cancellation notices. I want to put a perfect period at the end of the 'miracle' that has continued throughout this season," and reaffirmed his resolve to "return to this Busan again after passing through Goyang."

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*This content was translated by AI.