Busan KCC, having succeeded in a complete early advantage, has finished preparing to cross the eighth milestone to the championship by swallowing up even the second game.
Busan KCC and Goyang Sono will play the second game of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics professional basketball finals (best-of-seven) at Goyang Sono Arena on the 7th.
The winner of the first game was KCC. KCC defeated Sono 75-67 in the first game held on the 5th and celebrated first. Heo Ung and Heo Hoon, Song Kyo-Chang, Choi Jun-Yong, Shawn Long and other MVP-caliber players evenly contributed their strengths and showed the power of a "super team." On the other hand, Sono's momentum that had continued throughout the playoffs was broken once.
This finals series is the first in KBL history in which the fifth- and sixth-placed teams from the regular season face each other. Sono, the fifth-placed regular-season team, succeeded in reaching the finals for the first time since its founding, and sixth-placed KCC is challenging for the first ever "sixth-place championship."
The mood is leaning toward KCC. The championship probability for teams that won game 1 in past finals is 71.4% (20 out of 28 times). If KCC takes the second game as well, the probability soars to 85.7% (12 out of 14 times).
KCC, which flaunted the might of a "super team" in game 1 by leading with firepower from MVP-caliber players such as Heo Ung, Heo Hoon, Song Kyo-Chang, Choi Jun-Yong and Shawn Long, aims for a winning streak in game 2 while riding the momentum. Having already secured a 71.4% championship probability with the game 1 victory, if KCC takes the second game as well, the historical statistical probability of winning the title soars to an astonishing 85.7%.
This is an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to the 0% miracle of the first-ever "sixth-place team championship." Above all, for KCC, which relies heavily on its starters, the back-to-back schedule of playing games 3 and 4 at home in Busan on consecutive days due to venue arrangements is a painful physical variable. To preempt the extreme fatigue burden of a short series and to seize complete control of the series, the most perfect scenario KCC envisions is to secure two consecutive away wins and meet the home stretch in a relaxed state.
Before the game, KCC coach Lee Sang-Min repeatedly emphasized the basics. Despite the game 1 victory, he pointed out that they had allowed too many second rebounds to the opponent and raised his voice, saying, "All five players on the court must actively participate in rebounding." He also pointed out that the team's scoring in game 1 was somewhat low compared with KCC's usual scoring ability in the offensive department, and ordered plays faithful to the basics in offensive development and thorough turnover management.
He expressed strong confidence in the defense that shut down opponent Sono's offense. The coach evaluated, "We had a big matchup advantage over Kemba O. I think the defensive matchups fit perfectly 100%." He continued, "Because the players have experienced similar teams in the quarterfinals and semifinals, they are largely adapted," but warned, "Sono is a very dangerous team once its perimeter opens, so it depends on how much we can suppress that side."
He gave a cool assessment of the 3-4 home back-to-back schedule in Busan, which has emerged as the biggest variable in this series. The coach candidly admitted, "To be honest, personally I think we are somewhat disadvantaged. Because the starters play a lot of minutes." He added, "Both teams will likely come down to a mental and physical battle, and it has become an unavoidable situation where they have to clash."
With an unfavorable schedule ahead, the second game is an important watershed that could determine KCC's fate in the entire finals. The coach showed firm resolve, saying, "If we win today's game, that momentum can continue." Asked by reporters whether they could manage the starters' minutes in games 3 and 4 if they win the second game, he replied, "With psychological leeway, we might check the players' physical conditions and make changes."
Finally, the coach expressed his determination to win the second game, saying, "Rather than arguing which game is more important, I think today's game is extremely important. I will treat every game as if it is the last."
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