"I was able to win because I didn't give up until the end."

 

The Anyang Jeonggwanjang Red Boosters beat the Changwon LG Sakers 84-80 in the fourth round of the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball at Anyang Indoor Gymnasium on the 2nd.

 

Prior to the match, Chung was mired in a swamp for seven consecutive losses. If he had lost to LG, he would have tied for the most consecutive losses in his team's history. However, he garnered a victory in the first game of the new year in 2024, and successfully reversed the mood at the same time as escaping consecutive losses.

 

Chung had a tough game until the third quarter, losing ground to LG. The gap was 10 points when the fourth quarter started. However, outer shots began to explode. After Park Ji-hoon's passes, Jonghyun Lee and Choi Sung-won made three-point shots, and Park Ji-hoon also scored three points. However, LG ran away again with scores of Lee Jae-do, Lee Kwan-hee, and Justin Gutang.

 

With 4:33 left until the end of the game, Chung was trailing 77-70. However, Chung never gave up. Choi Sung-won's two-point and three-point shots were in the game. Since then, Park Ji-hoon's free throw has narrowed the gap to three points. Then, Park Ji-hoon completed an and one play, tying the game, and successfully turned the game around with aggressive rim attacks. With three seconds left before the game ended, Chung scored both of Robert Carter's two free throws, sealing the game.

 

After the game, head coach Kim Sang-sik said, "I was worried about giving up (the players) when the score gap widened by double digits, but I don't think the players gave up until the end," adding, "In fact, Jung Hyo-geun was in a difficult situation at the last minute because he had a leg cramp, but he said he would run and went in and the atmosphere seems to have changed."

 

Jonghyun Lee played in the stadium for 28 minutes and 26 seconds, recording 11 points and 12 rebounds as a double-double. "(Jonghyun Lee) caught a lot of rebounds. Jonghyun Lee also replaced him due to poor heel, but he said he would try. I think the mood of players trying to finish the game was the driving force behind the come-from-behind victory," manager Kim Sang-sik said.

 

After the come-from-behind victory, fans of Chung's home stadium chanted Kim Sang-sik's name. "I felt sorry for the long losing streak," Kim said. "I felt so sorry for the fans. I have to do better. You always cheer me on. I'm so encouraged."

 

"There are a lot of fans who come to cheer me up even during the losing streak. I think they've won since last year and cheered me on a lot," he continued. "They cheer me up a lot even when I'm losing. That's why I always feel even more sorry if I lose. I won today, but I hope it will comfort me even a little bit." 스포츠중계