"You can rest" — even the coach urged him to sit out... But Moon Jung-hyun played despite pain in his sole. How desperate is KT amid a three-game losing streak?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Despite the head coach's consideration, Moon Jung-hyun (25, Suwon KT) took the court. He had received treatment involving anesthesia to drain pus from a blister on his sole, but his determination to play remained unshaken. Both Moon and KT were in dire need of a victory.

KT, led by head coach Moon Kyung-eun, will face Wonju DB in a home game at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena at 7 p.m. on the 23rd in the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball regular season.

Currently, KT is tied for fifth place with a record of three wins and four losses. After losing to Seoul Samsung in the opener, they went on a three-game winning streak, appearing to build momentum, but then dropped their next three games in a row.

A turnaround is urgent. Recently, Moon Jung-hyun's performance has stood out after returning with an Asian Games gold medal around his neck, but even he was not in full physical condition.

Ahead of the game against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis on the 18th, head coach Moon Kyung-eun explained Moon's physical condition: "He had been carrying a blister on his sole for some time, and after the previous game, it filled with pus, so we numbed the area and drained it."

From the coach's perspective, he did not want to push him too hard. Coach Moon said, "I told him that if the pain was too much, he could rest, but his own will was strong." In the end, Moon Jung-hyun started the game on the court.

However, KT could not celebrate. They lost 80-96 to Hyundai Mobis, falling into a three-game losing streak. They wavered from the start of the game. They committed five turnovers in the first quarter alone, trailing 18-30, and recorded 13 turnovers for the entire game. Hyundai Mobis capitalized on KT's mistakes to score 26 points.

After the game, head coach Moon Kyung-eun could not hide his frustration. "We need to sort things out once. The same problems have been repeating," Coach Moon said. "Turnovers in the first and second quarters were immediately converted into points against us."

He continued, "In the third quarter, we tried to catch up, but in our haste, turnovers occurred again." He emphasized, "We need to show the aggressive attitude displayed in the third quarter from the very beginning of the first and second quarters."

Coach Moon stated, "We will organize things well before the next game so that we can show stable performance from the first and second quarters." He added, "Whether we solve it on offense or defense, we must do it. Right now, it is important to start solving it on offense."

How well Coach Moon's pointed-out issues have been resolved will be the biggest key in today's game against DB.

The opponent is no pushover. While DB has a record of three wins and three losses, their firepower early in the season is among the best in the league. They rank first overall with an average of 92.8 points per game. In particular, their fast breaks are formidable. Their average fast-break points per game also stand at 16.9, the highest in the league.

Conversely, KT's defense has been significantly shaky recently. During their recent three-game losing streak, they allowed an average of 89 points. There is also a clear homework on offense. Their average points per game is 80.9, the lowest in the league. They have many shot attempts but a low success rate, and few assists. Their errors are also high, averaging 11.6 per game, the second most in the league.

DB is a team that excels at converting opponents' mistakes into fast breaks. If KT loses the ball during hasty offensive plays like they did against Hyundai Mobis, it is highly likely to lead directly to DB's fast breaks.

This is why head coach Moon Kyung-eun emphasized immediately after the Hyundai Mobis game that they must reduce turnovers and create a stable flow from the start of the game.

The situation is difficult, with 'Veteran guard' Kim Sun-hyung being placed on the long-term injury list. However, they cannot back down either. If the losing streak continues to lengthen, they risk falling behind in the fierce standings competition from the early stages of the season.

The fact that Moon Jung-hyun showed strong determination to play despite not being in full physical condition is because a victory was so desperately needed. What KT needs is a win.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original