The KBL Champion is on fire, and the mental battle begins
The Korean Basketball Association (KBL) championship game is getting hotter and hotter. This is the result of KCC in Busan and KT in Suwon, which are challenging each other in a new history, and a fierce battle between brothers. Both teams, which exhausted their physical strength through the semifinal and semi-final play-offs, started a mental battle to win the championship. KCC and KT will play the fourth game of the 2023-2024 KBL Championship (four wins out of seven) at Busan Sajik Indoor Stadium on the 3rd. The third game, which was held on the 1st, attracted 10,496 cloud spectators, the most in the season. More than 10,000 people visited the KBL court for the first time in 12 years since the match between Anyang KGC (currently Jeonggwanjang) and KT (12,815 people) in the 2011-2012 season. With both teams already in full swing, KCC is leading the series with two wins and one loss. KT is aiming to win its first championship, while KCC is aiming to become the first champion in the history of fifth place in the regular league. Amid the constant battle between the "span and the spear" that is exchanging fast attacks, both teams are displaying intense pressure, physical fights, steals, and block shots. In particular, KT has declared that it will let players on the court continue to play unless requested to be replaced. The sibling rivalry between Hur Woong (KCC) and Hur Hoon (KT), which heralded an unyielding victory, is escalating to a climax. Hur Hoon, who has played full time for 40 minutes in the last two consecutive games and scored 59 points, said, "If I can win, I can play 180 minutes." Hur Woong, who led the team to victory in the third game with 26 points and seven assists, stressed, "I don't want to miss the win. I will play desperately and calmly in every game." The brothers are heating up the court, showing off their strengths and desire to win. The coaches of the two teams also predict that the winners of the series will be determined in the mental battle rather than the individual players' skills or team tactics. KCC manager Jeon Chang-jin, who said he lost the second game because he was too complacent, praised himself after winning the third game. KT manager Song Young-jin also said, "We need to focus more. We need to be more determined to win."