Professional basketball Seoul SK coach Jeon Hee-cheol covered his face, saying that the ‘failure to defend the title’ was his fault.
SK lost 97-100 after an extended fight against Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation on the 7th at Anyang Gymnasium in the 7th game of the 2022-2023 SKT Adot Professional Basketball Championship (4 wins in 7 matches).
Defending champion SK, 스포츠토토 who dreamed of winning the championship for the second time in a row, lost the throne to Ginseng Corporation after a bloody battle in the 7th game.
After the game, coach Jeon Hee-chul was tormented by his guilt and constantly stole tears.
Coach Jeon Hee-chul said at a press conference after the game, “I made a huge mistake in the 6th game,” and said, “I’m only sorry for the players who suffered.”
Coach Jeon Hee-chul, who covered his face with both hands and shrugged his shoulders for a while, said, “I’ve had a lot of trouble this season. I’ve come this far by enduring well.”
Defending champion SK’s spring basketball this season was not smooth.
SK was pushed to 3rd place without a ride to 2nd place Changwon LG, unable to reach the PO in the quarterfinals and fell to the playoffs (PO) in the semifinals.
However, in the winning streak that started at the end of the regular season, they advanced to the championship match with a terrifying upward trend of winning 15 consecutive wins without losing even once in the POs of the 6th and 4th rounds, and laughed first in the first game against Ginseng Corporation.
1 in the regular league and the first champion of the East Asian Super League (EASL), Ginseng Corporation’s potential was formidable.
To make matters worse, Choi Jun-yong, the MVP of last year’s regular season, suffered a left heel injury at the end of a game against Daegu Korea Gas Corporation in February and was unable to stand on the court, leaving a big hole in his power.
“I lost the game today, but this year (SK basketball) is not over,” said coach Jeon Hee-cheol, promising next year, “I have studied more, and I think the players will have learned more.”
Director Jeon Hee-chul added, “I will take responsibility (for grades).”