'Wheel Nongmyeongga, Power of One Team' Coway Blue Wheels defeated Jeju Samdasoo to regain the champion in two years

Nov 24, 2024

Photo provided = Korea Wheelchair Basketball Federation

[Gwangju (Gyeonggi Province) = Reporter Jeon Young-ji of Sports Chosun]'Whip One Team'Coway Blue Wheels defeated 'Korea-Japan Ace'Chokai-Kim Dong-hyun's Jeju Samdasoo to reclaim the wheelchair basketball champion's throne in two years.

Coway defeated Jeju Samdasoo 66-60 after a bloody battle in the final third game of the 2024 KWBL Wheelchair Basketball League Championship at Gwangju Civic Gymnasium in Gyeonggi-do at 2 p.m. on the 24th.

In the first quarter, Jeju Samdasoo Kim Dong-hyun's shots were fired one after another to lead 6-2. When Yang Dong-gil's shot penetrated the rim and chased 6-2, Kwak Jun-sung's shot following Yang Dong-gil's assist was successful, 6-6, balanced, and Kim Sang-yeol succeeded in scoring three consecutive points. They led 12-6. After Yang Dong-gil broke the pass line between Chokai and Kim Dong-hyun, Kwak Jun-sung scored and led 14-6. It was followed by Jeju Samdasoo Kim Dong-hyun's comeback goal, but Oh Dong-seok's three points were fierce, widening the gap to 17-8, 9 points. At 17-10, Jeju Samdas requested a timeout. However, it was difficult to contain Coway's momentum. It closed the first quarter with a score of 21-12. Chokai didn't score.

There was a mistake by Jeju at the beginning of the second quarter. Yang Dong-gil drilled under the basket and ran away by 25-12 and 13 points. Immediately after Jeju's urgent timeout, the chase was sparked, but the score difference hardly narrowed. Chokai, who scored an average of 32 points in Game 1 and 2, remained silent until the middle of the second quarter. Cheering Chokai in the audience "Lancy Gambare!" A chant broke out. At 3:24 a.m., Chokai's three-run shot was fierce. the first score. 27-18. Coway deployed Yoon Seok-hoon instead of Kim Sang-yeol in the fourth minute to arrange his physical strength. At 4:41 after Coway's counterattack failed, manager Kim Young-moo asked for the first timeout to break the flow as Jeju Kim Dong-hyun scored and was reduced to 27-20, 7 points. Immediately after Kim Dong-hyun's successful free throw, a strong all-court press was carried out, but Kim Ho-yong and Yoon Seok-hoon scored consecutive goals, making it 31-21 and 10 points again. However, at the end of the second quarter, Jeju drew the spark of the chase. With 2:35 left, they chased to 31-26, five points, and after Yoon Seok-hoon's U-foul, Chokai's free throw, 31-27, decreased to four points. Since then, Jeju's atmosphere has rapidly revived and finished with a 32-31, one point difference.

Photo provided = Korea Wheelchair Basketball Federation

Jeju gained momentum early in the third quarter. Kim Dong-hyun and Chokai Duo shot to lead 35-32. >'Coway Baek Jeon-rook' Kim Ho-yong scored a three-point goal to balance 35-35, but Kim Ji-hyuk's shot succeeded and led 37-35 again. Jeju, which relied on Chokai's personal skills in Game 1 and 2, survived with Kim Dong-hyun and Kim Ji-hyuk's even performances. On the other hand, Coway's zero point was shaken in the third quarter. At 3:21 a.m., Jeju led 39-35. The video review was conducted after Chokai's three-point success just before the whistle when Kim Ji-hyuk fell with 5:17 left. With three points recognition, Jeju ran 42-37. Coway veterans endured the moment of crisis. Kim Ho-yong and Oh Dong-seok scored a comeback goal to catch up by 42-41, again by one point. It was a very close race, literally a bloody battle. Shortly after Jeju's operation time, Coway succeeded in a comeback with Kwak Jun-sung's reverse shot 43-42. In the war, both teams made a series of mistakes. Kim Tae-ok's free throw led 43-43, Kwak Jun-sung's two points led 45-43, and Kim Sang-yeol's two points led 47-45. After Chokai's failed free throw, Kim Sang-yeol's shot went in, and Coway finished the third quarter with a 49-46 lead.

At the start of the fourth quarter, both teams' ace wars erupted. Coway's Kim Sang-yeol and Kim Ho-yong's shots were successful and 53-46, and Jeju ace Kim Dong-hyun responded with a chase shot. 53-50, again down by three points. It was an unpredictable match. With 5:55 left in the end, Chokai's come-from-behind shot was fierce, and Jeju Samdasoo again led by 54-53, one point. The ensuing counterattack chance, Jeju scored, widening the gap to 56-53. Coway's all-around ace Yang Dong-gil made two free throws to chase 56-55, and Kwak Jun-sung, who played as a reverse fighter at every turn, scored 57-56, Jeju Kim Tae-ok and Coway Oh Dong-seok alternately, leading to a one-point deficit until a minute ago. With 57 seconds left before the end, Coway led 61-101 points, and Kim Ho-yong's two points were fierce. Coway skillfully ran the remaining 20 seconds after Chokai's three-point run failed with 63-60, three-point difference and 30 seconds left. The last right to attack, Coway coach Kim Young-moo shouted the last operation time. 63-60, Kim Ho-yong scored the last free throw, 66-60. Coway beat Jeju in the league's third-place team'Coway to clinch the inaugural championship. It was a hot match.

Photo provided = Korea Wheelchair Basketball Federation

In the championship match, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, Seoul City Hall won three consecutive games in the 2019-2021 season after Jeju lost four consecutive games in the 2015-2018 season, Coway Blue Wheels, who took over the Seoul City Hall team in 2022 and re-founded it, won the first championship, and Chuncheon Tigers won the first championship last year. 'Wheelchair Basketball Master' Coway recaptured the championship two years after winning the inaugural year in 2022.

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