'A matter of utmost concern': When asked about the condition of Heo Woong and Choi Jun-yong, Lee Sang-min held back, saying, "It's not 100%, but I emphasized that they must do their best."

*This content was translated by AI.

"It's not 100%. However, I instructed them to treat today as their final game."

Busan KCC coach Lee Sang-min (54), who needs just one victory to secure the championship, reaffirmed his determination to win by emphasizing the injured resilience and mental strength of key players such as Choi Jun-yong and Heo Woong.

Ahead of the fifth game of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball Championship finals against Goyang Sono Gunners, to be held at Goyang Sono Arena on the 13th, Coach Lee Sang-min met with reporters to discuss the team's current situation.

KCC currently holds a favorable position with a series record of three wins and one loss, but the accumulated fatigue of key players remains a variable. In particular, the condition of team leaders Heo Woong and Choi Jun-yong is a matter of utmost concern. When asked about this, Coach Lee frankly stated, "Overall, their physical condition is not 100%."

He added, "The top five players have played too many minutes from the quarterfinals through the championship finals," and "The longer the games go on, the more it works against us. I emphasized that they should treat today as their last chance to pour everything out and finish." This analysis suggests that the outcome will be decided more by a 'battle of mental strength' than by technical tactics. KCC's top five players are Choi Jun-yong, Heo Woong, Heo Hoon, Sean Long, and Song Gyo-chang.

Coach Lee identified Sono's explosive three-point shooting as the top priority to guard against. The coach explained, "Sono is a team that shoots a lot of three-pointers and has a high success rate," and "I instructed them to play tight perimeter defense, thinking it is better to concede two points than to allow three-pointers."

He further added, "We must thoroughly prevent situations where we allow offensive rebounds and give second-chance opportunities," repeatedly urging focus on boxing out and fighting for possession.

The role of bench players in alleviating the physical burden on starters was also emphasized. The coach said, "I am also counting on our backup players. If they can step in for just five minutes, or even one or two minutes, to allow the starters to catch their breath, it will be a great help," hinting at plans to deploy all available resources in an all-out effort.

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*This content was translated by AI.