Asan Woori Bank defeated KB Stars for the second consecutive year after a fierce battle. Veteran Sim Seong-young (33), now wearing the Woori Bank uniform, dealt a blow to her former team.
Asan Woori Bank won 53-45 against Cheongju KB Stars in the 4th round playoff (PO) Game 5 held at Asan Iksun Gymnasium on the 10th.
With this, Woori Bank established itself as the first-ever winner of a 4th round PO Game 5 in WKBL history, marking its fourth consecutive appearance in the championship finals. On the other hand, KB Stars, after two consecutive losses, managed to win two straight at home, keeping the spark of hope alive, but ultimately could not overcome the barrier of Woori Bank at the last moment.
In the early stages of the game, a cautious exploration continued. In the first 5 minutes, only 7 points combined were scored by both teams. Woori Bank ended the first quarter trailing 9-13.
In the second quarter, Sim Seong-young exploded. He scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and provided 2 assists in 10 minutes of play. Thanks to this, Woori Bank turned the game around to lead 30-25 at halftime.
Buoyed by momentum, Woori Bank extended its lead further. The 3-point shots by Sunagawa Natsuki and Kim Dan-bi hit their mark, and Woori Bank also gained the upper hand in the rebounding battle. Soon, the point difference reached double digits.
Entering the final quarter with a 47-37 lead, Woori Bank struggled momentarily with its offense mid-quarter. However, KB also couldn't catch up as Nagata Moe and Heo Ye-eun's shots repeatedly hit the rim and bounced out. Ultimately, the game ended with Woori Bank's victory after a series of back-and-forth exchanges.
Sim Seong-young contributed 13 points and 4 assists, putting on a surprising performance in front of former teammates. Kim Dan-bi also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Park Hye-mi added 14 points. Now, Woori Bank is aiming for overall victory and its 13th championship. The opponent contending for the championship title against Woori Bank will be the winner of the 5th round playoff between Busan BNK and Yongin Samsung Life Insurance, which will be held on the 11th.
[Photo] Provided by WKBL.
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