Down on an ankle injury, yet "shutting down the ace perfectly"... Justin Go's confidence: "My dream is to win Defensive Player of the Year" [Jamsil On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Justin Go, who displayed heroic effort despite an ankle injury to lead Seoul Samsung in maintaining their sole first-place standing, revealed his exceptional desire for defense and strong pride in his team.

On the 9th, at Jamsil Student Gymnasium, Go delivered a dominant performance on both offense and defense in the second-round matchup against Suwon KT in the 2026-2027 KCC Pro Basketball League, driving his team to an 85-78 victory. With this win, Samsung improved to 11 wins and 2 losses for the season, continuing their lead at the top of the standings.

After the game, Go met with reporters and said, "It was a truly valuable victory. Because we lost in our previous game, today's win is even more meaningful." He added, "Every player fought hard on the court, and it was thanks to all of us coming together as one."

On this day, Go experienced a harrowing moment when his ankle rolled and he fell during the landing after making a three-point shot with about 6 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, he returned to the court near the end of the game, demonstrating heroic spirit by recording consecutive defensive stops and assists at crucial moments. Regarding the injury, Go said, "The pain was intense for a moment. I was even more surprised because it is an area that has always been prone to injury," but added with relief, "The trainers have taken such meticulous care of me that I am fine now."

In particular, his focused defense against KT ace Paris Bass in the crucial moments of the late fourth quarter was impressive. Despite being relatively shorter in stature, Go clung tenaciously to Bass, delivering suffocating man-to-man defense. After forcing a shooting miss amid intense physical contact, he roared in celebration. Bass fought back as well, heating up the psychological battle on the court, but it was Go, who displayed persistent defense, who wore the final smile.

Regarding his matchup with Bass, Go said, "I always play thinking about the 'Defensive Player of the Year' title." He emphasized, "The coach trusts me completely in defense, and my teammates on the court feel the same way. I play solely with the thought of protecting our team's defense."

Go also shared his personal goals and the team atmosphere for his third season with Samsung. "Personally, I definitely want to win Defensive Player of the Year this season," Go said. He hinted at the atmosphere by adding, "Each teammate has a clear goal in mind. Kerem Kanter is aiming for the Foreign Player MVP, and Lee Gyu-tae is targeting selection for the national team."

He showed strong confidence regarding his active 2-on-2 plays as a ball handler alongside Han Ho-bin near the end of the game. "I have always been confident in two-man games," Go said with a smile. "I could see that Hyobin-hyung was struggling physically, so I became more aggressive."

Regarding head coach Kim Sang-sik's perspective, who reminded the players of their vigilance by stating they are "not yet a perfect powerhouse team," Go demonstrated steadfast confidence as a player. "Looking only at individual skills, there may be areas where we fall short," Go said. However, he stated firmly, "But if it comes down to a 5-on-5 situation on the court, I am confident that Samsung right now is a stronger team than anyone else."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original