There is emotion in Sono Basketball! Reporter Park Su-jin receives applause as she departs; Coach Son Chang-hwan says, "Thank you and I'm sorry for meeting such an inadequate coach → I pay respect to the super team KCC."

*This content was translated by AI.

Coach Son Chang-hwan (50), who led Goyang Sono Skygunners to their first-ever runner-up finish, concluded the 2025-2026 season amid enthusiastic applause. Although they stopped just short of the championship, Coach Son remarked, "Reaching this point itself was a miraculous achievement," and shifted the credit to his players.

On the 13th, Goyang Sono lost 68-76 to Busan KCC Egis in the fifth game of the '2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball' championship series, held at Goyang Sono Arena in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, finishing the series with one win and four losses and failing to win the title.

After the game, Coach Son Chang-hwan entered the press conference room, visibly emotional. He first expressed his apologies and gratitude to his players. Coach Son stated, "I really want to thank and apologize to the players who worked hard after meeting such an inadequate coach during the regular season and playoffs, which lasted a little less than eight months." He added, "This is not the end; a new beginning awaits. Next season, I will join forces with the players to build an even better team."

Unlike usual, Coach Son did not bring a scorecard to the interview room that day. This was different from his typical demeanor of answering reporters' questions while reviewing game records. It reflected his resolve to look beyond the disappointment of defeat and prepare for the future. He laughed, saying, "Actually, I didn't want to bring (the scorecard). I didn't want to look at it because we need to prepare for what comes next. This marks the end of Act One, and we must now prepare for Act Two."

In fact, Sono's journey this season was nothing short of an "underdog's rebellion." Fans' hopes for a spring basketball run, expressed when the first half ended, were realized as the team went on a 10-game winning streak in the second half. They ultimately secured fifth place in the regular season, advanced to the playoffs, and climbed through the quarterfinals and semifinals to reach the championship series for the first time in the franchise's history.

Coach Son revealed, "Honestly, I never imagined we would reach the championship series. I only had a vague desire in my heart to get there. As I've mentioned many times before, our original goal was to reach the semifinals and maintain a winning percentage of 50 percent."

He continued, "That's why I am so proud of the players who achieved our goals. I believe the results we achieved beyond that were more than we deserved. For me personally, this was the first time I led the team through the playoffs, so it was a grateful time where I clearly learned what areas needed improvement."

Regarding the opposing team, KCC, he expressed admiration. When asked if there was any player on the opposing team he wished wasn't there, Coach Son wittily replied, "I wish KCC had no players at all. They are so outstanding that if you block one, another scores from the side. The intimidating presence of the opposing team was definitely different from other teams. I pay respect to the super team." At the same time, he praised his players, saying, "Our players who faced such a super team performed at over 100 percent of their capabilities."

As Coach Son Chang-hwan, who maintained humility, wit, and respect until the very end, stood up to conclude the interview, a round of encouraging applause erupted among the on-site reporters. He was honored not as a defeated coach, but as the architect of "emotional basketball." Although they missed the throne, the passion shown by Sono and Coach Son Chang-hwan left a deep resonance in the hearts of Goyang fans.

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*This content was translated by AI.