'KT in Crisis' Again: Key Player Out with Injury, Head Coach Moon Kyung-un Says "My Head Is Aching; We Have a Game Plan, But..." [Suwon On-Site Report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

One hurdle after another. The injury concerns of Suwon KT head coach Moon Kyung-un are deepening.

KT and Daegu Korea Gas Corporation will face off in the second round of the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball League at the Suwon KT Sonic Boom Arena on the 7th at 4:30 p.m.

KT swept both games of a back-to-back schedule over the weekend, extending their winning streak to two and bringing them within reach of returning to a .500 win percentage with a record of five wins and six losses. Meanwhile, Korea Gas Corporation, which has been alternating between wins and losses recently, secured a victory against Seoul SK on the 4th, balancing their record at six wins and six losses.

Although they are at an important juncture where they must continue their upward momentum, Coach Moon's expression was somber. Meeting with reporters before the game, Coach Moon let out a deep sigh over the situation in which his team's strength had actually been depleted during the five-day break.

"While there were concerns about match fitness, it was good time to reorganize the team, so we took a rest, but now things are completely in crisis," Coach Moon said, expressing his frustration. "Ok Jun underwent surgery yesterday for acute appendicitis. He is a key player who averaged nearly 20 points during our winning streak, and with him out, we are left with only one dedicated point guard, Kang Seong-wook."

He continued, "It is said that Ok Jun will need about two weeks to return. The game against SK is the last match before the break, so I have absolutely no intention of forcing him to play. From the moment we selected Paris Bass, we envisioned an offensive style of basketball aimed at scoring 90 or 100 points. Our scoring power held up even with the absences of Kim Sun-hyung and Ha Yun-gi, but now that Ok Jun, who was providing double-digit scoring, is also out, I am struggling to figure out where to make up for more than 15 points in offensive output."

The card Coach Moon has played to fill the void is a possession game focused on stealing offensive control. "Rather than trying to technically replace Ok Jun's scoring with one or two players, we held a meeting with the players and decided to play a game where we secure more possessions," Coach Moon said. "Hustle plays, offensive rebounds, and smart fouls to disrupt the opponent's flow are all skills. We plan to deploy all 10 players evenly and compete with energetic play."

He also shared news of the absence of Ha Yun-gi, a national team big man who was preparing for his return. "We conducted training on Wednesday in an attempt to make him available for the game against Korea Gas Corporation, but he could not complete the session and complained of pain," Coach Moon said. "We made the decision right then. We will have him rest from exercise entirely for a month going forward and give him time for rehabilitation."

Regarding Ha Yun-gi's call-up to the national team, he added, "It is not an issue with the surgical site itself, but as a consequence, he has bone bruises in other areas. Because of the bruising in his bones, he cannot generate any speed or jump and is limping. The pain is severe, so the club plans to return him to the rehabilitation group." He continued, "During a break when there are no games, there is absolutely no reason for the club not to send players for a few days of call-up, but I believe it is not right to force him to join now, both for the player himself and for the national team."

Ultimately, the answer lies in the lead-by-example attitude of the veterans and the fighting spirit of the bench players. "During our winning streak, Jeong Chang-young played a solid veteran role from the bench, and Kim Jun-hwan and others gained confidence," Coach Moon explained. "Rather than basketball where Bass scores alone, players skilled at securing possessions, such as Park Ji-won, Kim Jun-hwan, and Han Hee-won, must pour out their activity on the court. I am also considering deploying Kang Seong-wook aggressively in the second and third quarters."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original