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With 1 second left, Heo Ung's free throws give KCC Game 3 win

From Hankyoreh · (3h ago) Korean Positive tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Busan KCC secured a crucial 88-87 victory in Game 3 of the Korean Basketball League championship series against Goyang Sono.
  • Player Heo Ung's clutch free throws in the final second sealed the win, giving KCC a commanding 3-0 series lead.
  • KCC is now one win away from their seventh league title, with Sono facing a historically difficult comeback scenario.

Hankyoreh

If we had lost this game, the overall atmosphere would have been very down, but Heo Ung made both free throws, so I think we overcame an important hurdle.

— Lee Sang-minKCC coach commenting on the significance of Heo Ung's game-winning free throws.

In a nail-biting Game 3 of the 2025-2026 Korean Basketball League championship series, Busan KCC has taken a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead over Goyang Sono. The decisive moment came with just one second left on the clock, when KCC's star player, Heo Ung, calmly sank two free throws to secure an 88-87 victory. This dramatic win, achieved on their home court at Sajik Gymnasium, puts KCC on the brink of their seventh league title.

The victory was a testament to KCC's clutch performance and resilience. Despite a shaky free-throw record earlier in the game, Heo Ung delivered when it mattered most. Coach Lee Sang-min praised his team's ability to overcome a critical juncture, emphasizing that this win prevented a potential morale collapse. The combined efforts of Heo Ung (27 points, 15 rebounds), Heo Hoon (16 points, 10 assists), and Song Kyo-chang (10 points) were instrumental in overcoming Sono's spirited challenge.

We will do our best to lift the championship trophy in Busan (our home court).

— Lee Sang-minKCC coach expressing determination to win the championship at home.

For Goyang Sono, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. They held a one-point lead with mere seconds remaining, only to see it slip away due to a foul on Heo Ung. Despite strong performances from players like Lee Jung-hyun (19 points) and Kevin Kemba (17 points, 11 rebounds), Sono's inability to capitalize on KCC's foul trouble—particularly the early exit of KCC's Choi Jun-yong—proved costly. Historically, no team that has fallen behind 3-0 in a best-of-seven series has ever recovered. Sono now faces an uphill battle, needing to win four consecutive games against a dominant KCC side to keep their championship hopes alive. The upcoming Game 4, moved up a day, presents their immediate challenge.

The biggest difference between KCC and other teams is the problem-solving ability of star players.

— Jeong Yong-beomCommentator highlighting the impact of KCC's star players in crucial moments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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