Lee Won-seok 24, Samsung was rediscovered due to the absence of Ra Gun-ah 35.
The men's basketball team, led by head coach Ahn Joon-ho, returned home on the 8th after winning one game and losing one game against the Japanese team in the "2024 Softbank Cup Friendship" held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on the 5th and 7th. In the first game, Korea defeated Japan 85-84 with Ha Yoon-ki's free throw to the final. In the second game, Korea failed to overcome the difficulties of the away game and fell to its knees 80-88.
After Ra Gun-ah retired from the national team, most of the main players were missing. Coach Ahn Jun-ho newly formed a team with an average age of 24. The result was a huge success. South Korea, which aggressively attacked and defended hard all 12 players, played on par with Japan, which is participating in the Paris Olympics.
The biggest beneficiary is Lee's rediscovery. With Ra Gun-ah's retirement, Ha Yoon-ki seemed to be keeping the team under the basket. Lee and Lee were selected for the first time for the senior national team, but expectations were not high. Ha displayed strong performance in the first game with 15 points and seven rebounds, including two dunk shots.
In the second round, Ha Yoon-ki hurt his ankle after a big fall. Lee Won-seok stepped up instead. He was so nervous in the first round that he had no more points and only one rebound. Lee gained three basket counts through active cut-ins. He also scored a face-up against Josh Hawkinson.
Lee even hit a three-point shot at the corner. Although fouls were declared, his block shots against Yuki Kawamura and Hawkinson were also impressive. He even dunked in the fastball. Lee, who showed different activities, showed complete changes with 18 points in the second game.
After the match, Lee said, "I was so nervous in the first match. I was less nervous today. It was my first time playing for a national team. I had very few Korean fans in other countries and they were all Japanese. I felt a lot of pressure to play in such a situation. I asked Yoon Ki-hyung and Lee Jung-hyun, who have played in the national team. They told me that I was nervous at first. That's why I was less nervous." 카지노사이트 모음
There were only about 10 Korean fans at the latest Ariake Arena packed with 14,000 spectators. Only four Korean reporters covered the second game on the spot. Under difficult conditions, the players wearing the national flag cheered up.
Lee Won-seok said, "I couldn't have done better in the first round. I hurt my ankle in early March and caught the basketball for the first time in four months. I really tried hard to overcome it. I also practiced free throws with a backboard and through-shoots. When I changed the shooting form itself, the percentage came out well. The team also orders me to confidently report the ring. This time, I did it with confidence. I felt that I had to strengthen it in the physical part. As a big man who mainly rebounds, I feel responsible for being pushed back."
Lee Won-seok's rediscovery has raised expectations for next season among Samsung fans. Lee Won-seok said, "Many fans came to faraway places. They also put in coffee. Thanks to you, I was so grateful. They cheered me a lot so that I didn't think it was an away way. Even though there were only a few people there, the voices were really loud. It really gave me strength. Samsung fans are 'Sun-dong'. I will always see you with a better performance this season. There are more than three months left until the season, so I will solve all my homework and come back."
Manager Kim Hyo-beom, who officially took the helm of Samsung, is also proud of Lee Won-seok's performance. "I am proud of Lee Won-seok's good performance. However, there will be ups and downs in the future," Kim said, adding that he had high expectations for Lee.