Coach Jeon Chang-jin, who leads the KCC in Busan, prepared a secret weapon for the first round of the 2023-2024 professional basketball match against Suwon KT at KT Sonic Boom Arena in Suwon on the afternoon of the 27th.

They prepared a 3-2 drop zone that was often used in the past and brought it with them.

Coach Jeon Chang-jin tried to use the drop zone in the Wonju DB and the semifinal playoff. "I didn't use the zone in the semifinal because I was so good at defense that I was surprised," he said. He revealed his defense tactics that he had kept hidden for a while in the final stage.

His intention was clear. When KT gave Paris Bath a rest and deployed Michael Eric, KCC took out the drop zone card. At that time, Alize Johnson was assigned to serve as guard, and Lee Keun-hwi and Chung Chang-young were assigned together.

KCC successfully defended several times in the early part of the second quarter when it took out the drop zone. To break the regional defense, KCC must have more three-point shooters on the court. Therefore, KT manager Song Young-jin excluded Eric and deployed Bath again at the first minute and 30 seconds into the second quarter.

It was a moment when coach Jeon Chang-jin's winning move worked.

"I am 100 percent satisfied with the effect (of the drop zone). Bath came out right away," coach Jeon Chang-jin said. "It was good to use up Bath's physical strength. I think that led to the third and fourth quarters."

Coach Jeon Chang-jin stressed even before the game that the winner will be decided in the third and fourth quarters. The game went as planned. KCC was pushed back by two points through the first half, but scored 15 points in a row in the first four minutes of the third quarter to take the lead in an instant. KT countered the game by banking on its Hur Hoon, but it was impossible to dampen KCC's momentum.

Game 1 ended in a 90–73 victory for KCC.

If the defense is successful, the ensuing attack will be much easier. The balance of offense and defense was good at the beginning of the third quarter. Huh Woong played a big role in this process.

"I felt Choi's inability to concentrate until the second quarter. What we are good at is fastball, but we were not able to run around. I emphasized that part to my teammates after the second quarter, and as soon as the third quarter started, that part fell out well. We need to be excited for both forwards (Song Kyo-chang and Choi Jun-yong) to be successful in offense," Huh said.

Heo and Song scored 17 points, the most in their team. Choi contributed to the victory by scoring 12 points and seven assists. He especially kept Bath in check in defense. "Choi defended Bath well," Ra Gun-ah complimented.

KCC saved energy while not losing ground in the first half and poured in early in the second half. Coach Jeon Chang-jin's bold judgment stood out. He requested the team time at 1:24 after the start of the first quarter. The score was still 0-4, but coach Jeon did not wait.

Coach Jeon Chang-jin said, "I took six days off and played the game, but I looked a little lazy. He gave me points that I had to give out. I thought I should clarify things. I played loosely as if I had already won the game, thinking that I had started, and called for operation time at an early timing. In the championship game, if the flow is taken away, the spirit of the opponent team will come to life. I think this is the first time I called time so quickly while coaching."

BY: 토토사이트