"Back after a year off, more desperate than anyone else": From FA orphan to basketball academy coach to player's return... Choi Seung-uk explodes for 9 points in overtime: "Just running on the court is happiness"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Just a year ago, he could not have stood on a professional basketball court. But now, he has transformed into the go-to player responsible for his team's victories. This is the story of Choi Seung-uk (32) of the Daegu Korean Gas Corporation.

The Korean Gas Corporation defeated Wonju DB 95-90 in overtime in a home game against them at the Daegu Gymnasium on the 28th, securing a win in the regular season of the 2026~2027 KCC Pro Basketball League.

With this victory, the Korean Gas Corporation escaped a two-game losing streak, improving to a 4-5 record for the season and rising to a tie for fifth place. Meanwhile, DB's three-game winning streak came to an end, leaving them in fourth place with a 5-4 record.

The star of the victory was Choi Seung-uk. On this day, Choi led the team with 14 points and 9 rebounds. In particular, he delivered an explosive performance by scoring a whopping 9 points in overtime alone. He did not miss a single shot during the five minutes of overtime. He made all two of his two-point attempts and one three-point attempt, and also cleanly sank two free throws. Choi accounted for 9 of the 15th points the Korean Gas Corporation scored in overtime.

In fact, Choi's standout performance began in the fourth quarter. At that time, the Korean Gas Corporation was trailing 69-74. Entering the game as a substitute, Choi provided support to the team by securing defensive rebounds. He then followed up with a crucial two-point shot to tie the score at 74-74.

Choi's focus continued. By actively contesting rebounds, he blocked opposing attacks, and the Korean Gas Corporation took the lead 77-76 with 2 minutes and 17 seconds remaining in the game, powered by a three-point shot from Sam Joseph Belanque.

Choi also stepped up as the go-to scorer. With 1 minute and 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he hit a valuable three-pointer to give his team an 80-78 lead. DB subsequently tied the game again, sending the match into overtime.

He shone even brighter in overtime. Choi displayed his presence at a critical moment by hitting a three-point shot that flipped the score to 85-83. When DB's counterattack put them back in the lead, he calmly made two free throws, laying the groundwork for the comeback.

Choi also played the decisive role in sealing the win. With the Korean Gas Corporation leading 91-90 late in overtime, Choi scored on consecutive fast breaks. He made a layup with 25.3 seconds remaining to make it 93-90, and added two more points with 5 seconds left to nail down the victory.

What makes it even more special is Choi's past year. Choi played for Seoul Samsung in the 2024~2025 season but failed to sign with any team in the FA (free agent) market after the season ended. As a result, he had to sit out the entire 2025~2026 season.

It was uncertain whether he could even continue his playing career. Choi left the professional stage and taught children at a youth basketball academy. However, he could not easily let go of his desire to stand on the court again as a player.

Ultimately, Choi received a call from Korean Gas Corporation head coach Kang Hyuk and seized another opportunity. Head Coach Kang highly evaluated Choi's defensive skills, high activity level, and willingness to do unglamorous work, and Choi returned to the professional stage after one year away.

Because his return to the court had been so difficult, Choi's heart was more desperate than anyone else's. In a post-game broadcast interview following the win over DB, he said, "I came back after resting for a year, so I felt a greater sense of desperation than anyone else." He added, "Just being back on the court and playing is happiness in itself. The head coach has given me many opportunities, so I am playing basketball happily."

He also expressed gratitude to Head Coach Kang Hyuk, who believed in him. Choi stated, "The head coach instructed me to shoot with confidence." He explained, "Opposing defenses focused heavily on players like Sam Joseph Belanque and Kebe Aluma, which created opportunities. I shot with confidence, and good results followed."

He fulfilled his role not only in offense but also in defense. In particular, he put in a lot of effort to guard DB's key guard, Lee Sun Albano. Choi reflected, "Albano is an incredibly skilled player. I thought I had to defend him hard." He added, "I gave up points, but I believe I made it difficult for them to attack."

This victory was also significant for the Korean Gas Corporation. They had suffered a crushing 26-point defeat, losing 78-104 in their first matchup against DB on the 19th. However, they succeeded in getting revenge by defeating the same opponent just nine days later.

Choi said, "Because we lost by a large margin in the previous game against DB, the players had a mindset to make this one a close contest." He continued, "It was tough at first, but we kept up with them, and the game opened up from the second half onward. Because we played hard on defense, our offense flowed well, leading to a good result."

He further emphasized, "Our team is not one with high offensive firepower, so we must play good defense. I think our defense was lacking during our losing streak." He added, "This time, our defense worked well, which allowed us to win."

His goal was clear: advancing to the playoffs. Choi stated, "Advancing to the playoffs is our goal. To do that, we need to win more games." He resolved, "We will strive to repay the fans' support."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original