[Wonju On-Site Review] It Wasn't the Big Three! The Star Was Kang Sang-jae, Who Led the Charge with 'Explosive 3-Pointers'... DB Secures 'Opening Game Comeback Win' Over Sonam

*This content was translated by AI.

Wonju DB's "Big Three" were formidable, but the one who stepped up as the go-to scorer when it mattered most was "Veteran" Kang Sang-jae.

DB secured a 95-86 comeback victory in their home game against Goyang Sonam on the 4th at 2 p.m. at Wonju DB Promi Arena, marking the opening of the 2026~2027 KCC Pro Basketball season.

It was a matchup between two teams that had been tipped as championship contenders even before the season began. In a poll of the 10th team managers regarding championship predictions, DB, newly led by Manager Lee Gyu-seop, received a whopping 7 votes. Sonam also garnered 2 votes.

This was DB's first game of the season. The anticipation among Wonju fans was intense. All 4,150 seats for the home opener sold out just five minutes after online sales began.

A DB club official expressed surprise, stating, "While we have had sellouts through additional on-site sales before, this is the first time all tickets were sold out so quickly via online sales alone." Manager Lee Gyu-seop expressed his gratitude for the fans' passionate support before the game.

Sonam started off on a high note by winning their season opener against Daegu Korea Gas Corporation on the previous day (the 3rd). However, they could not overcome DB's wall in this back-to-back schedule.

This season, DB has built a powerful "Big Three" lineup consisting of Lee Sun Albano, Henry Ellenson, and Ration Hammonds. They displayed formidable firepower from the pre-season open matches, and DB won both of their two open match games.

However, Kang Sang-jae was at the center of this day's victory.

DB fell behind early in the game as Sonam took control of the flow. Each time, Kang Sang-jae scored decisive points in crucial moments, shifting the momentum.

Kang Sang-jae recorded 19 points and 7 rebounds, including five 3-pointers. Crucially, he sank three 3-pointers in the third quarter, a period where DB moved from chasing to tying and then taking the lead.

Ellenson guarded the paint with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Captain Albano also delivered a near-triple-double performance with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Hammonds recorded 13 points and 7 rebounds.

True to their status as championship contenders, the game was tight from the start. The first quarter ended in a 28-28 tie.

DB took the lead 16-14 midway through the quarter, fueled by consecutive 3-pointers from Lee Yu-jin and Lee Yun-gi. They maintained the momentum as Lee Yun-gi and Kang Sang-jae continued to hit shots from beyond the arc.

Sonam's counterattack was fierce. Adding 3-pointers from Lee Jung-hyun and O'Brien to their fast breaks, they quickly narrowed the gap. O'Brien also made a 3-pointer on Sonam's final possession of the first quarter, resetting the score.

The second and third quarters, where two foreign players can now be on the court simultaneously starting this season, became another key battleground.

Sonam took control of the flow in the second quarter. While DB's shots struggled to find the rim, O'Brien hit shots from outside to reclaim the lead. Additionally, Kambao cleverly drew fouls, allowing Sonam to pull ahead 43-34.

DB called a timeout to break their opponents' momentum. It worked. They aggressively contested rebounds to secure possession and capitalized on Sonam reaching team foul trouble, steadily accumulating points from free throws. With Ellenson also hitting a 3-pointer, the gap narrowed to just 3 points.

However, Sonam did not back down easily. Im Dong-seop and Lee Jung-hyun hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull away again. Sonam led 54-45 at halftime.

DB's full-scale counterattack began in the third quarter.

The 9-point deficit persisted until midway through the quarter, but Kang Sang-jae's 3-pointer served as the signal for the chase. Following this, Albano secured a crucial rebound and then scored a 2-pointer himself, closing the gap to 61-66.

Hammonds and Ellenson also added points from inside and outside, narrowing the deficit to 66-69.

And Kang Sang-jae completely turned the game around. With 51.2 seconds left in the third quarter, he hit a go-ahead 3-pointer, followed by another shot from beyond the arc. The score had already shifted to 74-71. DB finished the third quarter having reversed a previously trailing game.

DB did not let go of the momentum they had hard-won.

Entering the fourth quarter, Kang Sang-jae and Albano threw themselves into rebound battles without holding back. On offense, Lee Yong-woo and Lee Yu-jin hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull ahead 80-74. Upon seeing his shot from outside go through the net, Lee Yu-jin clenched his fist and roared.

Sonam's offense, under pressure, became increasingly desperate. Conversely, DB intensified their efforts. With an additional 3-pointer from Lee Yong-woo, the score widened to 85-74.

After that, DB focused on defense to maintain their lead. In the final moments, Kang Sang-jae took responsibility for a decisive 3-pointer, and DB capped off their first game of the new season with a thrilling comeback victory in front of their home fans.

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*This content was translated by AI.