'Champion's Head Coach to Rival' Lee Gyu-seop, DB Head Coach: "This is my first time facing Head Coach Lee Sang-min..." [On-site in Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Lee Gyu-seop, head coach of Wonju DB, expressed a unique sense of nostalgia and firm resolve to win ahead of his first matchup against Busan KCC, the team he helped secure last season's championship title with. Rather than indulging in sentimentality, he is determined to attack his former team's home court through thorough preparation and a cold-blooded competitive spirit.

DB will face KCC at 2 p.m. on the 10th at Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in an away game of the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball regular season.

After crushing Goyang Sono 95-86 in the opening game, DB suffered a narrow 92-96 loss to Changwon LG in their most recent match, currently standing at 1 win and 1 loss. Designated as a strong championship contender at the pre-season media day, DB aims for a turnaround in momentum on its Busan away trip, leveraging the formidable foreign duo of Henry Ellenson and Raison Hammonds, along with the explosive offensive power led by Asian quota player Lee Sun Albano.

This matchup holds particularly special significance for Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop. Having lifted the championship trophy amid the fervor of Sajik as KCC's head coach last season, Lee is visiting Busan this season as DB's helmsman, stepping into the role of a rival for the first time.

Meeting with reporters before the game, Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop smiled and said, "Excluding my time as a commentator, this is essentially the first time I have used this side of the locker room as a head coach."

He continued, "Sajik Gymnasium is a familiar and grateful place to me, one filled with great memories from last season," but emphasized, "However, I am now DB's head coach. It is time to focus on making our team stronger and more developed rather than dwelling in the past."

He also revealed a warm encounter with the KCC organization the previous day. Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop stated, "I am grateful that the KCC general manager took special care of me yesterday, allowing me to receive my championship ring from last season."

Embracing the meaningful ring, Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop also shared an anecdote about KCC's Lee Sang-min, who was both a former mentor and colleague.

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop said, "I met with Head Coach Lee Sang-min, and we exchanged words of encouragement, telling each other to do our best," adding, "Head Coach Lee also offered warm words of support regarding our recent loss to LG, saying, 'It would have been better if we had achieved a good result.'"

The moment they step onto the court, friendship and affection must be set aside for the time being. Regarding the matchup against Head Coach Lee Sang-min, Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop noted, "This is the first time in my coaching career that I am facing Head Coach Lee as a rival team's head coach," adding, "We know each other very well, and there are likely many similarities in our basketball styles and philosophies."

Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his resolve: "Doing my utmost to prepare thoroughly and take the court is the true courtesy I owe Head Coach Lee Sang-min and my former team. Since KCC also has a decent flow early in the season, it seems we will engage in a fierce matchup, each focusing on playing the basketball they do best."

He laid out his game management strategy against KCC without reservation. Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop said, "KCC is also a team with a very strong and fast offensive tendency, so our styles are similar," explaining, "I asked my players to push the tempo a bit faster and conducted intensive training on spacing and screen timing." He added, "During the offseason, we prepared about three defensive tactics, but today I plan to deploy two of them as tailored defenses to contain KCC's firepower."

Head Coach Lee Gyu-seop stated, "My role is to set the stage so that my players can utilize their strengths on the court in the most comfortable and free manner," continuing, "As a rookie head coach, I must not be impatient. If we look at the season from a long-term perspective and find our average level, the team will inevitably become stronger. We will show the spectators who have come to Sajik exciting and fun basketball from both teams."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original