"I play through the pain in my finger for the team's sake": Heo Hoon's moving display of fighting spirit... Can 'defending champion' KCC finally turn things around? A two-game winning streak signals a counterattack

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Can 'defending champion' Busan KCC finally find its footing? After struggling early in the season, including a seven-game losing streak, the team has secured back-to-back victories, laying the groundwork for a turnaround.

KCC, led by head coach Lee Sang-min, defeated Goyang Sono 105-102 in a home game of the 2026~2027 KBL regular season held at Busan Sajik Gymnasium on the 3rd. With this win, KCC improved to a 4-8 record for the season and climbed out of last place to tie with Sono for eighth.

It was a welcome victory for KCC. The team had defeated Sono 4-1 in last season's championship series to claim the title, but concerns about a weakened roster were significant ahead of this season's opening.

The departures of key players from the championship run were painful. National team forward Song Gyo-chang moved to Japan's B.League, and another core player, Choi Jun-yong, also left the team after announcing his intention to challenge himself on the U.S. stage. KCC had to face the new season without two of its main forwards.

Those concerns became reality. KCC struggled to find its rhythm from the start of the season. Beginning with a loss to Wonju DB on the 10th of last month, the team fell into a seven-game losing streak. The aura of the champions had vanished, and KCC plummeted to the bottom of the league standings. However, the atmosphere has changed recently.

The vanguard of the turnaround is foreign player Louis King. King performed brilliantly in the home game against DB on the 31st of last month, recording 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. In particular, he scored 16 points in the third quarter alone, including four three-pointers. KCC also crushed DB 90-74, escaping the grueling seven-game losing streak.

King's performance continued against Sono as well. On this day, King led the team's offense with 30 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Having poured in a total of 64 points over the last two games, he has emerged as the center of KCC's resurgence. Sean Long also contributed with 24 points and 9 rebounds.

Most welcome of all was Heo Hoon's performance. In the game against Sono, Heo played for 26 minutes and 36 seconds, recording 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists. He made three of his seven three-point attempts and sank all seven of his free throws.

His presence shone in the crucial moments as well. KCC led 60-44 at halftime, appearing to secure an easy victory. However, in the second half, Lee Jung-hyun of Sono started hitting shots from beyond the arc, allowing a comeback. In the fourth quarter, KCC was even pressed to within just two points, 95-93.

This is when Heo Hoon stepped up. After assisting on Jang Jae-seok's basket, Heo made both of his free throws to widen the lead again. KCC subsequently shook off Sono's persistent pursuit to hold onto the victory.

The result was also a product of playing through injury. In a post-game broadcast interview, Heo revealed his strong determination, saying, "My finger is injured and it hurts, but I am enduring it and playing for the team."

It was not just about playing through injury. Heo cited communication and trust within the squad as the reasons behind KCC's recent change.

"We have held many team meetings," Heo explained. "We talked a lot with each other, adjusted our play, and showed good form in the last two games."

He added, "We can win if we just work hard. We told each other that no matter who shoots on the court, even if the shot doesn't go in, we shouldn't get upset; instead, we should grab rebounds, make backcourts, and approach the game with mutual trust."

He emphasized, "In terms of skill, we are not inferior to any team. I told the players that if we stay committed to the basics, we can win."

Indeed, KCC has laid the foundation for a leap into the upper-middle tier of the standings with its two-game winning streak. The road ahead is still long, but clear positive signals are emerging. King has regained his reliable scoring ability, and Long is fulfilling his role in the paint. On top of that, Heo Hoon is playing through finger pain while strengthening team unity.

The gap between KCC and the teams tied for fifth place is only 1.5 games. If they maintain their momentum, they are in a position to catch up entirely.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original