Passion even in a friendly match, applause for the opposing players... Korea University-D3 All-Star Team, a 'special game' that created shared memories [On-site at Anam]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

On the court, they competed for victory; after the game, they left shared memories together.

Korea University, led by head coach Joo Hee-jung, defeated the D3 All-Star Team 71-46 in the "2026 KBA D3 Division League Event Match" held at Hwajeong Gymnasium, Korea University, in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. on the 15th.

The match was hosted by the Korea Sports and Arts Foundation and organized by the Korean Basketball Association (KBA), with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Hana Bank, Prospecs, and IS Dongseo. It was an occasion where university basketball and recreational basketball met on one court. Following the inaugural event match held last year, a matchup between Korea University and the D3 All-Star Team was realized again this year. Korea University, which won their first meeting 78-75, secured victory in their second encounter as well.

D3 is the top tier of the recreational basketball division league operated by the KBA. Enthusiasts who love basketball and those with experience as players compete together. This all-star team was formed by selecting 12 players based on considerations such as individual records in this year's D3 League, player careers, and positional balance.

The players' passion was intense even in a friendly match. Both teams approached the game seriously, cheering every time a score was made to boost their teammates' morale. The D3 players, who came from different teams, encouraged one another and stood as a united front. Korea University also showed dedication by actively attacking from both inside and outside the arc and battling for rebounds in the paint.

Cheering continued off the court as well. Basketball families and fans visited the gymnasium to support the players. The atmosphere was warm, with scenes of applause being given to the opposing team as well. While players who usually compete on different stages tested their skills against each other, spectators cheered for both teams' challenges.

Korea University is also this year's university basketball U-League champion. They won the second game of the championship series against Sungkyunkwan University 76-66 at the same venue on the 11th, closing out the series with two consecutive wins. By maintaining their top position for six consecutive years since 2021, they achieved the first six-peat in U-League history and their ninth overall title.

Although they finished fourth in the regular season, they demonstrated resilience in the playoffs. After defeating Yonsei University in the quarterfinals and Chung-Ang University in the semifinals, they overcame Sungkyunkwan University in the championship series.

In this event match, held just four days after securing the title, the team was built around second- and third-year players who will form the core of the team next year. For head coach Joo Hee-jung, it was also an opportunity to assess the potential of the young players.

In particular, he highly evaluated the shooting ability of freshman Jung Jae-yeop. Coach Joo stated, "Jung Jae-yeop is versatile from both inside and outside. I have a desire to help this player grow," adding, "His shot is definitely good. He has the knack for scoring."

He also recalled Shin Min-seok (Military Service), an alumnus of Korea University. He found commonalities between the two players in their ability to score. However, he noted that "defense needs improvement," pointing out an area where Jung Jae-yeop needs to work on.

In the D3 All-Star Team, Kim Hyung-jin (MI), who was selected for two consecutive years, and Lee Ju-min (Jake Crew), who is re-challenging in the KBL rookie draft, drew attention. For Lee Ju-min, who went through Yongsan High School and Sungkyunkwan University, it was an opportunity to show his competitiveness against university players ahead of the draft on the 20th.

Although they were teammates meeting for the first time, Lee Ju-min confidently roamed the court amid their encouragement. Lee reflected, "At Jake Crew, I was alone. Some of the people I met in games were opponents, and many were people I had never met before," adding, "It was my first time playing together with them, but the seniors' skills are definitely good, so I played without pressure."

He continued, "The seniors pushed me to play confidently. They told me it's okay if I make mistakes, so I ran even harder," expressing his gratitude.

Head coach Joo, who led the opposing team, also offered warm encouragement to Lee Ju-min. He said, "I saw him at Yongsan High School and thought he was a good player. I heard he also plays 3-on-3," adding, "It's a pity that he didn't become a pro player last year, but I think if he keeps working hard and preparing to achieve his dream, an opportunity will come."

There was also a meeting that unfortunately did not materialize. Lee Gun-hee (Jake Crew), who had been preparing for a matchup against his junior schoolmates, was absent due to injury. He had played in this match wearing the Korea University uniform last year, but although he was selected for the D3 All-Star Team this year, he could not take the court. Lee Gun-hee is also scheduled to re-challenge in this year's draft alongside Lee Ju-min.

Head coach Joo supported his former student's challenge as well. He stated, "I hope Lee Gun-hee does well and that Lee Ju-min can seize a good opportunity through his challenge," adding, "I want to convey the message that I always support them not just as a coach, but as a senior in the basketball community."

A familiar face also appeared at the broadcast booth. In today's match, which was live-streamed through the KBA's official YouTube channel "KBA Live," Jeong Seong-jo of Seoul Samsung served as a surprise commentator.

Jeong Seong-jo is a player who achieved his dream of entering the pros from the amateur stage. He started basketball in a youth club, learned the game for about three months at Hongdae Middle School, and primarily honed his skills in amateur tournaments and 3-on-3 arenas. Subsequently, he was drafted by Goyang Sono with the second pick in the third round of the 2024 KBL rookie draft. He drew attention as a "non-player background" entering the pros, having virtually no elite player career, and moved to Samsung through a trade last year.

He encountered players from the recreational basketball stage, familiar to him, this time as a commentator. Jeong explained, "When I received a call from the association, the most important thing was my team's schedule. If the schedule matched, I wanted to participate readily," adding, "I knew some of the players on the D3 All-Star Team, so I thought it would be fun."

He continued, "The caster guided things well, so I spoke in between. I tried to explain within the scope of my knowledge," sharing his impressions by adding, "Korea University has very skilled players, and there are also good players in D3, so it was enjoyable."

The final score was a 25-point victory for Korea University. After the game, players from Korea University and the D3 All-Star Team took commemorative photos. The two teams, who had fiercely competed on the court, concluded their second meeting by leaving shared memories together.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original