The regular league champion, who was driven to the edge of the cliff, drove the series to the end by unfolding a 15-point gap against the ‘reversal master’.
Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation won 86-77 against Seoul SK Knights in Game 6 of the 2022-2023 SKT Adot Professional Basketball Championship held at Anyang Gymnasium on the 5th. The series between the two teams, which became 3 wins and 3 losses, headed for the final 7th game.
Bae Byeong-jun, who served as KGC’s scene stealer throughout this season, also continued the possibility of becoming a unified champion for the second year in a row with different teams.
Bae Byeong-jun ran 27 minutes and 36 seconds that day and scored 8 points. It was regrettable that he only succeeded in one 3-point shot, which was his strong point, but when Moon Seong-gon was not there, he actively took charge of Kim Seon-hyung, fighting spirit in the offense and defense.
Bae Byung-Jun said, “A lot of our fans have come since the 3rd game in Jamsil. Even the SK players said that there were so many Anyang fans that they didn’t know which team it was. It was the same today, and I think we won thanks to the fans, so I’m really grateful.” told
He also added, “I believe that the players will have a little more confidence because they won a game they were losing a lot, and I feel good that I will be able to face the 7th game in a better atmosphere.”
KGC allowed a lead by 15 points at the end of the third quarter on this day. Winning didn’t seem easy. However, he showed his fearful back-mind and gave SK, which was reborn this season a ‘famous house of come-from-behind victory’, a painful come-from-behind defeat.
Bae Byeong-joon said, “The score difference was large, but it was the third quarter, and there was time left. Personally, I didn’t shoot, but I thought I could narrow the score to a single digit in the third quarter. All five people on the court seemed to have that mindset. At the clutch time in the 4th quarter, (Byun) Jun-hyung handled it with confidence, and (Oh) Se-geun-hyung also matched with (Jamil) Warney, so I think we were able to win.”
Both teams are tied at 3 wins and 3 losses, and now only the final match remains.
Bae Byeong-jun said, “It would be really nice if my shot went off in the last game, but I’m just looking at winning. Later today, (Kim) Sun-hyung took over as Hyung-hyung, and I really decided to live or die. I said that I would take over Seonhyeong because I had to give it up, but I was very happy that Junhyung burst out at the last minute. I think the atmosphere has come to us as we overturned the 15-point gap. But I will not be vigilant and prepare for the final game with a more fighting spirit. I hope today’s good atmosphere will continue because the 6th and 7th matches are at home.”
Meanwhile, Bae Byung-joon is a prospective groom who will hold a wedding next weekend (13th). Woori Bank’s Go A-ra, a prospective bride, often visited the stadium to support Bae Byung-jun and KGC after completing her WKBL schedule. He said that KGC won almost all of the matches he found himself, claiming that he was a ‘victory fairy’.
Bae Byung-joon laughed and said, “The win rate of the matches that (Go Ara) cheered for was 90%. ‘Seung-yo (victory fairy) seems to be right,'” and showed an unexpected aspect.
Bae Byung-joon said, “Actually, I watched Woori Bank matches comfortably. It was my first time visiting the women’s basketball arena, so the hardest part was wandering around looking for a seat, and I really enjoyed watching the games. However, my girlfriend was anxious about the playoffs and championship game I’m watching. SK is in a situation without Ahn Young-jun and Choi Jun-yong, but it’s a really scary team and it’s strong, so it’s not a situation where one side can overwhelm, so we have to play close matches every game.”
Go Ara did not visit the stadium in Game 6, which was held that day. Go Ara is currently leaving for Hawaii and is on a championship tour for her team, Woori Bank.
Go Ara said, “I can’t go to the 6th game because of the championship trip. I’m having a good time on the championship trip, so I hope (Bae Byung-jun) will be stimulated and win the championship trip.”
Bae Byung-joon laughed, saying, “It was a little stimulating and motivating. Also, my girlfriend may be expecting a winning bonus when our team wins.”크크크벳
Go Ara is scheduled to visit the stadium for the 7th game to be held on the 7th. The travel schedule was changed for the last game 7. The Woori Bank team enjoys a few more days of winning trip, but Go A-ra returns home alone to support the prospective groom.
It remains to be seen whether the sincerity of the bride-to-be, who became an ‘unexpected victory fairy’, will lead to the laughter of Bae Byung-jun, who is the only KBL player to win the combined championship for the second year in a row.