The 90% chance of winning is ‘ours’! | Segye Ilbo

All you have to do is stop Park Ji-soo.

The answer to beating Cheongju KB, a strong contender for the women’s professional basketball championship in the 2023-2024 season, was clear. But who doesn’t know that you can just hang a bell around a cat’s neck? Park Ji-soo was strong enough to write a new history in women’s basketball by dominating the MVP award in rounds 1 to 4 this season, and with Park Ji-soo at the forefront, KB rose to first place in the regular league in overwhelming form.

Although Asan Woori Bank is the defending champion, Park Ji-soo was the reason why the emphasis was placed on KB winning this season’s championship match (3 wins out of 5).

Woori Bank stopped Park Ji-soo, who seemed unstoppable.

Woori Bank defeated KB 62-57 with a tenacious defense in the third game of the championship held at the Yi Sun-sin Gymnasium in Asan, South Chungcheong Province on the 28th. Woori Bank, which won the first game, bowed out by giving up 37 points and 20 rebounds to Park Ji-soo in the second game, but won the third game held at home and started to take the lead in the series with 2 wins and 1 loss. In the previous championship game with 1 win and 1 loss, the team that won the 3rd game had a 90.9% chance of winning (10 out of 11 teams).

Woori Bank harassed Park Ji-soo terribly. Kim Dan-bi prevented Park Ji-su from entering deep under the goal, and when the ball reached Park Ji-su, Lee Myung-gwan, Park Ji-hyun, and Choi Lee-sam rushed in and blocked the shot. Park Ji-soo recorded a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds on this day, but compared to the last game, his destructive power was lacking.

After the game, Woori Bank coach Wi Sang-woo said, “It was the same for our players, but Park Ji-soo also felt that his stamina was decreasing as time went by,” and added, “When he lacked stamina in the second half, he pushed hard to see the effect.”

In attack, Park Hye-jin shined. Woori Bank, which ended the first half with a score of 23-35, turned the tide in the third quarter with Park Hye-jin scoring 8 points. In particular, Park Hye-jin gave the team the lead by scoring a 3-pointer one minute before the end of the third quarter when Woori Bank was behind 41-43. Park Hye-jin scored 14 points and 9 rebounds that day. Danbi Kim scored 21 points, the most for both teams, and Isam Choi also added 10 points.

Park Hye-jin said, “I felt anxious as the score gap widened in the first half, but since it was a championship match, I had faith that the tide would come in our favor at some point,” and “I wanted to help the team in some way, so I played actively, and I think we got good results.” .

If Woori Bank wins the 4th game on the 30th, it will achieve its second consecutive league victory. Kim Dan-bi said, “Because Park Ji-soo is there, the longer the game goes on, the more disadvantageous it will be,” but said, “I will prepare with the thought that it is the first game of the series rather than the burdensome feeling of trying to finish it at all costs.”

Asan = Reporter Jeong Pil-jae

[ⓒ 세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]