'Yesterday it was Heo Woong, today it is Heo Hoon' — the younger brother sealed the deal with 3 seconds left... KCC rides 'Heo brothers' to five straight wins after seven-game losing streak

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Yesterday, older brother Heo Woong carried Busan KCC through the decisive moments. Today, it was younger brother Heo Hoon who shouldered that burden.

Led by head coach Lee Sang-min, KCC came from behind to defeat Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 80-77 in a home game at Busan Sajik Gymnasium on the 15th in the 2026~2027 KCC Pro Basketball League.

KCC overturned a deficit that had once reached 21 points. After falling into a seven-game losing streak early in the season, KCC has since won five consecutive games to improve its record to 7 wins and 8 losses. The team sits in a tie for fifth place with Changwon LG, continuing its battle in the middle of the standings.

Heo Hoon was the player who decorated the final moments. He played 33 minutes and 7 seconds, recording a double-double with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 10 assists. In particular, he scored the go-ahead basket with 3 seconds remaining and also made an additional free throw to complete the comeback. After facilitating his teammates' scoring, he stepped up to solve it himself at the most critical moment.

The star of the previous day was Heo Woong. KCC defeated Seoul SK 75-70 at the same venue on the 14th. At the time, Heo Woong recorded 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists, including four three-pointers. Notably, he scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone. He was responsible for more than half of the 17th points KCC scored in the final quarter by himself.

The next day, the younger brother stepped up as the closer.

The game against Korea Gas Corporation did not start easily. KCC finished the first quarter trailing 16-27. Playing back-to-back games after a close contest the previous day, the point gap also widened significantly. Even at halftime, KCC trailed by double digits, 34-47.

However, the momentum shifted in the second half. In the third quarter alone, Lewis King scored 14 points and Heo Woong added 7 to lead the pursuit. KCC outscored its opponent 25-11 during that period. Just before the end of the quarter, King's three-pointer went in, flipping the score to 59-58. Heo Hoon was also the one who assisted on that basket.

The two teams traded leads repeatedly in the final quarter. At a crucial juncture, Heo Woong stepped up first. With KCC trailing 71-72 and 1 minute and 6 seconds remaining, he drained a three-pointer. The score became 74-72. Following his performance the previous day, he activated his outside shooting again at an important moment.

However, victory was not yet certain. With 32 seconds left, KCC fell back to a 74-75 deficit after allowing Sam Joseph Belanque to make all three of his free throws.

This time, Heo Hoon's pass opened the way. With 23 seconds remaining, Kim Hoon connected on a three-pointer off an assist from Heo Hoon. It was the only field goal Kim Hoon made that day. Despite playing only 2 minutes and 22 seconds, he hit the outside shot at the most desperate moment for the team, making it 77-75.

Korea Gas Corporation did not back down either. With 9 seconds left, Kebba Alluma scored in the paint to tie the game at 77-77 again.

The outcome hinged on the final possession. Heo Hoon, who had the ball, drove directly into the paint. He scored despite a foul and also earned an additional free throw. Only 3 seconds remained on the clock. Heo Hoon did not miss the free throw, making it 80-77. Alluma's final three-pointer missed, sealing KCC's comeback victory.

It was not a game where Heo Hoon's shooting fell into rhythm easily. He made 4 of his 10 field goal attempts and hit only 1 of his 6 three-pointers. However, he orchestrated the offense by accounting for 10 of the team's 17 total assists, and brought home the victory with a bold drive at the end.

Brother Heo Woong also contributed, playing 39 minutes and 15 seconds to record 19 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Following his 23-point performance the previous day, he scored 42 points over two days. King recorded a team-high 21 points along with 4 steals, while Sean Long guarded the paint with 14 points and 13 rebounds. It was a victory where the brothers' performances at crucial moments were bolstered by their teammates.

After the game, Heo Hoon first reflected on the team's performance. In a broadcast interview, he said, "It feels good to have come back from a difficult game. I am sorry for playing a very disappointing game in the first half," adding, "I will make up for it well in the next game and continue our winning streak."

KCC played two consecutive close games over the weekend while also managing its schedule for the East Asia Super League (EASL). Although it was a physically demanding schedule, Heo Hoon's answer was simple.

"As a player, whether it is a back-to-back or not, once I am on the court, I just do my best," he said, crediting his teammates by adding, "All the players played well, which allowed us to turn the game around."

During the interview, Heo Woong also sprinkled water on his younger brother to celebrate. It was a shared joy of victory between the older brother who had handled the decisive moments the previous day and the younger brother who scored the winning basket today. KCC, which had bowed its head after a seven-game losing streak, is now savoring the joy of a five-game winning streak.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original