Choi Jun-yong, the 'key to the rise', left the scene that was painful
Choi Jun-yong, the 'key to the rise', left the scene that was painful
Blog Article
Choi Jun-yong (200cm, F) led the rise. So Choi Jun-yong's exit was painful.
Busan KCC lost 79-95 to Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the 2024-2025 KCC professional basketball regular league game held at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan on the 27th. It recorded 10-12 wins and 12 losses. It failed to narrow the gap with the upper-middle class.
KCC recruited Choi after the end of the 2022-2023 season. KCC immediately confirmed the Choi Jun-yong effect. The versatile Choi Joon-yong has achieved synergy with various Korean players including Heo Woong (185 centimeters, G), Song Kyo-chang (199 centimeters, F) and Lee Seung-hyun (197 centimeters, F).
Choi's defense and rebounding under the basket were also validated. So Alize Johnson (201cm, F) and Ra Gun-ah (199cm, C) were able to ease the burden. With Choi playing various roles, KCC was able to emerge as the final winner from 2023 to 2024.
However, Choi did not play in the early 2024-2025 season. It was because of an injury. But after returning to the court, he has shown his performance. In particular, he scored 42 points against SK in Seoul on the 10th, the most in a single game in his career.
However, Choi was excluded once again from the battle due to pain in the soles of his feet. However, he returned to the Anyang Jeonggwanjang match on the 25th. He only played 18 minutes and 45 seconds, but recorded eight points, seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal. Above all, he fully displayed the spirit of Dionte Burton (192 cm, F). He also faced Hyundai Mobis.
However, Choi's physical condition is not perfect. His soles do not heal easily. Jeon Chang-jin, KCC manager, also cautiously said before the match, "(Choi) Jun-yong cannot be deployed for a long time. We need to use him according to situations."
So, Choi needs to do a better job in the role of "game changer." When KCC needs turning points, Choi should contribute to the team. That way, the whole KCC team can get excited.
KCC was trailing by a two-digit margin (9-19) four minutes before the end of the first quarter, and Choi and Burton entered the court together. Choi tried to shore up the mood with his assistance. However, KCC was trailing by 11-28 with 1:52 left before the end of the first quarter.
Choi actively engaged in defense, fastballs, and offensive rebounds under the basket. He also tried to boost his team's morale while he had time to hide from bad practices. He then assisted Calvin Epistola (181 cm, G) with three points through kick-out passes. However, KCC finished the first quarter 16-29. They started the second quarter with a fairly large margin.
Choi joined Lee Seung-hyun and Leon Williams (197cm, C) in the second quarter. Choi did not need to use as much effort as Lee and Leon did bad things. However, he had to focus more on offense such as fastball deployment, ball transportation, and game assembly.
Also, KCC manager Jeon Chang-jin removed Leon from the court. He added Choi as No. 4 and Lee Seung-hyun as No. 5. But Choi ran faster. He changed the mood to 29-38 with two fastballs.
Both Choi and Lee had to put more effort into defense under the basket. However, Choi's contributions to offense and defense were also high. First of all, he effectively blocked Jang Jae-seok (202 cm, C) and Sean Long (206 cm, F) and scored three points after using the screen. He further elevated the decibel at Sajik Indoor Stadium in 32-40.
And KCC put in players who are good at scoring three points (Huhung-Lee Keun-Hwi-Calvin Epistola). Players who had a long shooting range were around the three-point line. For that reason, KCC could have targeted the paint zone more easily.
Heo Woong dug into the paint zone without a ball, and Choi Jun-yong, who was outside the 3-point line, did not miss it. Heo Woong's movement was saved with bounce passes and entry passes. Two passes led Heo Woong's four points in a row.
Choi didn't just pass. He scored three points after checking the distance from the defender. After that, he ran solo from the KCC area to the Hyundai Mobis area. He led a foul free throw while also succeeding in a fastball layup. He chased Hyundai Mobis under the chin 43-44.
Heo Woong made a come-from-behind free throw. And Choi once again hit and ran. After stopping in front of Ham Ji-hoon (198 cm, F), he scored a point under the basket following a spin move. He maximized the mood for KCC with 48-44.
Burton went first in the third quarter. Choi's ball handling portion has decreased. Choi, who touched the ball less, scored by joining the fastball. KCC's fastball widened the gap with Hyundai Mobis by 55-50.
Choi effectively blocked Ham Ji-hoon, the control tower of Hyundai Mobis. He blocked Hyundai Mobis' starting point with his wide range of defense and athletic ability. This was why KCC maintained a gap of "3 to 5" with Hyundai Mobis.
Choi then made another choice instead of shooting, breaking through, and 2-2. Choi made an alley-oop pass four minutes and 33 seconds before the end of the second quarter. Choi's pass was a little high, but the button finished it off with ridiculous elasticity.
However, KCC players, including Choi Joon-yong, lost their power. They failed to block Hyundai Mobis' attack and fast attack. They lost the fighting spirit. 토토사이트
The gap between KCC and Hyundai Mobis widened. Choi tried to turn the game around somehow. However, he was over-motivated. He was ejected for his second technical foul seven minutes and 20 seconds before the end of the game. Choi, who was ejected, couldn't hold his anger. He led the way with 14 points (2 points: 4/4, 3 points: 2/2) and two assists and one rebound in the second quarter alone, but had to recognize his team's loss off the court.