Shocking! Coach Kang Hyuk's exit + Heo Hoon's dominance in the game. KT PO has won two consecutive games. Huh Hoon's Nicholson hunt was at the heart of the game
Apr 16, 2025
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KT didn't collapse in the end. There was a match for hunting He Hun's Nicholson.
KT beat Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 63-57 in the third round of the 2024-2025 season KCC professional basketball semifinal playoff (best out of five) held at Daegu Indoor Gymnasium on the 16th. Huh Hoon exploded the most 35 points between the two teams and dominated the match.
KT won and lost two games to occupy an advantageous position to advance to the semifinals. Game 4 will be held at the same place on the 18th.
The atmosphere was strange. In the second game, Korea Gas Corporation injured Matiang's ankle by Park Joon-young's rough foul in the second game. a missed game three. The player who played the ace role in the first and second games is gone.
However, Nicholson, who missed the first and second games due to a back injury, is back. Nichols is the killer of KT.
Before the game, KT coach Song Young-jin said "Will Nicholson play against us not only outside but also under the basket?? It was powerful."
In other words, Game 3 is the first match of the semi-finals at the home of the Korea Gas Corporation. In the end, the gas corporation was more likely to come out determined. There were also signs of overheating. The atmosphere was quite strange.
In the end, Kang Hyuk, the head coach of the Korea Gas Corporation, left the scene.
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KT launched its big lineup. It was a defense against Nicholson. In order to check Nicholson, who has good inside and outside, minimizing mismatches through big lineups and switch defense accordingly were important tactics.
However, Gas Corporation aimed for KT's defensive weakness with Shin Seung-min's three-point and a cut-in using Nicholson. Eventually, he changed the system to two guards, Huh Hoon and Kagulan, in the middle of the first quarter.
Korea Gas Corporation efficiently controlled KT's attack with a surprise double team. KT's offensive routes are mostly blocked except for Huh Hoon's mid-jumper. On the other hand, the gas corporation was successful twice, with Belangel post-up against Kagulan.
17-12, lead of the gas corporation. Jung Sung-woo targeted the outside using the screen as a protective film. Huh Hoon dodged the screen and made a contest, but he fouled. Jung Sung-woo scored two points out of three free throws.
Fortunately for KT, Hammons, who had a severe slump in the first and second games, supported the score as he tried to break through. Hammons scored six points in the first quarter. Kim Nak-hyun plays at the end of the first quarter of the Korea Gas Corporation.
It was not easy for both Kim Nak-hyun and Kim Joon-il to participate in the Korea Gas Corporation due to injuries. 19-14 in the first quarter, ending with a five-point lead.
The Korea Gas Corporation did not release both Belangel and Jung Sung-woo in the second quarter. I needed a break. However, it was difficult to stop Heo Hun and Kagulangan with Kim Nak-hyeon and Udon-hyeon. Heo Hun's mid-jumper. Heo Hun looked quite good on the day. In the first quarter, five attempts also made four. The accuracy rate was strong. Ha Yoon-ki's fastball also burst. a two-point chase.
However, KT had a problem with three stores. Six attempts in the first quarter and not one burst. The reason why KT's offense is losing steam. Gas Corporation ran away again with Kim Nak-hyun's bank shot.
The pressure on the gas corporation has increased. Nicholson blocks Morgan's shot. Belangel and Kim Nak-hyun's strong pressure defense followed.
However, there was no Matiang. Nicholson was replaced with 5:42 left in the second quarter. Five Korean players took to the court. For KT, 27-20, seven points behind, it was an opportunity to chase.
Foul by Belangel with 5:40 left in the second quarter. Slightly pushed in the way of stopping Cagoulangan, colliding with the screener. Bellangel's foul was declared. Belangel protested vehemently.
If you look closely at the scene, Kagulantan pushes to the off-arm, and Belangel is pushed, colliding with the screener. Coach Kang Hyuk strongly protested and was sent off. A powerful variable has emerged.
The next scene was also ambiguous. Nichols and Morgan were fighting fiercely under the basket. My arm got tangled in this process. The referee blew Nicholson's attacker foul, and Nicholson protested vehemently. It was understandable.
Technical foul again. KT chased after 27-25, a two-point gap.
However, at this time, Jung Sung-woo stole and Kwak Jung-hoon scored a fastball.KT's operational time. However, at this time, Kagulangan and Kwak Jung-hoon again engaged in a war of nerves. Kwak Jung-hoon collided with Kagulangan, who was about to pack the ball.
an atmosphere of a touch. Both teams had a rough defense. The fielding rate was extremely poor in both teams. 32-29, 3 points lead by Gas Corporation to end the first half.
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In the first half, both teams' three-point shooting success rate was disastrous. KT failed in all 12 attempts. Korea Gas Corporation made one successful 3-pointer in nine cities and provinces. It had a success rate of 11 percent.
As soon as Nicholson started the second half, he hit a long-term three-run shot.
However, KT scored two points for Moon Jung-hyun's fastball free throw and chased again with Hammons' fastball.
At this time, a foul variable occurs. In the process of Ha Yoon-gi's rise, Belangel pushed it slightly with both arms. a four-pronged rule.
Huh Hoon and Ha Yoon-ki's 2-2 attack succeeded. 35-35, tied.
The attack on the Korea Gas Corporation has stalled. Kim Nak-hyun's 3rd store failed. Huh Hoon's tempo push and Ha Yoon-ki's fastball dunk burst. It was not easy for Nicholson to control. KT's 37-35, come from behind.
Gas Corporation didn't get a terrible 3-pointer. Again, Kim Nak-hyun's three-point failure and Bellangel's floater also turned away from the rim. Then, KT's Huh Hoon's tempo push and Hammons' fastball came out again.
After that, Huh Hoon finally hit a three-run shot. It was a three-point game after 16 three-point attempts. Nicholson hit a shot under the basket, but Huh Hoon also opened a three-point game this time.
It was Heo Hoon's one-man show. 45-37, KT's lead by seven points.
At the end of the third quarter, Huh Hoon was out. The Gas Corporation was without Nicholson. KT's attack was not carried out properly. Transition with strong gas construction and quick attack score came out. In the end, KT's lead ended the third quarter with a 45-42 lead of three points.
Huh Hoon's mid-jumper burst in the fourth quarter. When the Korea Gas Corporation's attack failed, Huh Hoon again handed Hammons a quick-fire pass. Hammons's quick layup went off.
On the other hand, Korea Gas Corporation was extremely sluggish in its three outer stores. At KT's height, Gas Corporation responded with a three-point shot. In other words, if both teams say that the three-point shot is not good, the loss will inevitably be seen by Gas Corporation.
With 6:51 left, Gas Corporation hit a three-run single from Shin Seung-min's corner for the first time in a long time. 49-46, Gas Corporation chasing by three points again.
Huh Hoon's cool mid jumper again. Kwak Jung-hoon and Woo Dong-hyun tried to score 3 points for the Korea Gas Corporation, but it failed. It was an attack route with a high probability in a desperate situation. Then Heo Hoon made a breakthrough under the basket. Again, the lead was widened to 53-46, 7 points.
Korea Gas Corporation cut the flow by 2 to 2 with Kim Nak-hyun and Shin Seung-min. The problem was Kim Nak-hyun's poor performance. A three-point shot open chance with a perfect pattern, but again turned away from the rim.
At this time, Jung Sungwoo's drive and kick. Kim Nak-hyun's three points finally burst. 53-51, the pursuit of the gas corporation by two points.
Ha Yoon-ki's free throw scored one point. However, Gas Corporation trailed by one point on Nicholson's offensive rebound. Then, Huh Hoon mid jumper in a mismatch with Nicholson. Runs away again.
Korea Gas Corporation had 17.9 seconds left. Belangel and Kim Nak-hyeon missed the three-point game. KT won in the end.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
