[Wonju on the ground] "This is a first" — Wonju DB head coach Lee Gyu-seop stunned... The fervor in Wonju is off the charts! Home opener sells out in just 5 minutes

*This content was translated by AI.

Both the head coach and club officials were taken aback by the enthusiastic support from Wonju fans.

Wonju DB will face Goyang Sono at its home venue, the Wonju Promy Arena, on the 4th at 2 p.m. in the opening game of the 2026~2027 KCC Pro Basketball League season.

For DB, good news arrived even before tip-off: all tickets for the home opener had already been sold out.

A DB club official told StarNews on the day that "all 4,150 seats were sold out just five minutes after online sales began for this game."

The official added, expressing surprise, "We have had sellouts through additional on-site sales before, but this is a first."

Lee Gyu-seop, who has newly taken the helm at DB, expressed his gratitude for the intense interest from home fans.

Before the game, head coach Lee Gyu-seop said, "Wonju is a place where fans support the team with tremendous passion," adding, "In fact, I was personally surprised through the off-season games. I also felt deeply grateful."

He continued, "When I walk around downtown Wonju, there are people who recognize me and greet me. It shows just how much interest there is in basketball here," promising, "I will prepare even better so that not only in this game but continuously, I can meet fans' expectations and provide them with enjoyment."

There is a reason for the high expectations among Wonju fans.

DB is considered one of the strongest championship contenders in the KBL this season.

Under new head coach Lee Gyu-seop, the team has built a formidable "Big 3" lineup featuring Lee Sun Alvano, Henry Ellenson, and Laion Hammonds.

Their firepower already exploded from the Open Match Day.

In their first live game against Seoul Samsung, Ellenson recorded 33 points and 12 rebounds, Hammonds had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Alvano contributed 12 points and 7 assists, with the three players combining for a whopping 69 points. DB crushed Samsung 101-83.

They then defeated Seoul SK 103-85 as well. By pouring in over 100 points in both Open Matches, they foreshadowed their formidable offensive power for the new season.

Assessments from other clubs were no different.

At the KBL opening media day held last month, each club's head coach was asked to name one team, excluding their own, that they considered the strongest championship contender.

Out of the nine head coaches excluding Lee Gyu-seop, a whopping seven chose DB.

A solid roster combined with the passionate cheering atmosphere from Wonju fans.

DB, evaluated as the strongest championship contender this season, recorded a sellout starting from its home opener, signaling a promising start not only in performance but also in box-office appeal.

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*This content was translated by AI.