Who will party? KBL title on line
The Magic Wings’ center Philip Ricci
For the Mobis Phoebus, defeats in games five and six of the Korean Basketball League final meant more than just a lost opportunity to claim its first KBL title ― they meant a loss of about 6 million won ($64,460).
Ulsan-based Phoebus took a three-games-to-one lead into the fifth game in Busan, home of their finals opponent, the KTF Magic Wings. Thinking they had the title wrapped up, the Phoebus prepared balloons, confetti, and fireworks for the championship celebration. They even instructed their fans on how to celebrate for what they felt would be certain victory, on the opposing court no less.
But the Wings spoiled the party, winning by two points in overtime to extend the series.
The Ulsan team reused some of the balloons and set the table again for a Hollywood ending on their home court. The Magic Wings would have none of it, beating the Phoebus 74-66 to force a Game 7 showdown for the championship at six tonight in Ulsan.
Phoebus officials have cancelled a victory parade in Ulsan, which they had scheduled for today, assuming the series would be over in six games. Instead, a commemorative tower may be built downtown to celebrate the city’s first professional sports title.
The Magic Wings have ordered championship baseball caps and T-shirts, after holding off on that idea until the team’s third win in the series Sunday.
Party plans aside, the teams have one more huge game to play.
The big M word, momentum, is important in a playoff series, and the momentum has swung back and forth. Right now, the Magic Wings, the first KBL team to force a Game 7 after being down 3-1 in the finals, seem to have momentum on their side.
But Choi In-sun, a former KBL head coach and an analyst for cable sports channel Xports, said that after a grueling six games, the championship game will come down to “mental toughness.”
“In the playoffs, you want to focus on what you did right during the regular season, and try to maximize your strengths,” Choi said. “By now, everyone is exhausted. The key is to summon that last drop of energy, stay focused on the task at hand, and utilize your strengths.”
shoots over the Phoebus’ Chris Williams during Game 6 of the KBL championship series, top photo. [NEWSIS]
Choi said the common thread is that both teams rely heavily on their top players. “So another key is how the teams can vary their offensive options and involve other players.”
One such player for the Magic Wings is forward Song Young-jin, who missed Game 5 with a back injury but came back in the sixth game to score 13 points. He played on painkillers, and grimaced on a few occasions during the sixth game.
“The time off between Games 4 and 6 helped me quite a bit, though I am still not 100 percent,” Song said. “We are upbeat about our chances, and I am playing in Game 7.”
KTF coach Choo Il-seung, who on Sunday said he was grateful for Song’s efforts, offered that Song may be pushing himself too hard. But the coach has another player that he is concerned about because of an injury.
Rookie forward Cho Sung-min, who has been a sparkplug for KTF both as a starter and off the bench, collided with Mobis guard Yang in Game 6 and was carried off on a stretcher. Coach Choo said more tests would be necessary to determine if Cho would be in uniform for the final game. The swelling had not gone down by the early afternoon yesterday, Choo said.
“It will be important to get a doctor’s opinion on him,” the coach added. “The kid just wants to play. But we have to make sure he gets medical clearance first.”
While the Magic Wings try to rally around injured players for the franchise’s first title, the Phoebus, also pursuing their first championship, are licking their wounds after two straight losses.
Coach Yoo Jae-hak said the players aren’t all that rattled after the back-to-back losses, but Yoo acknowledged that Yang, his prized point guard, was exhausted in Game 6 (Yang scored his series-low nine points). But in a Game 7 for all the marbles, you can sleep later, and Yoo said his club will be ready to go.
The coaching strategies will also be of interest. The Magic Wings boast one of the league’s deepest rosters, but Choo has shortened his bench for the final series.
Guards Lee Hong-soo and Hwang Jin-won, and forward Lee Han-gweon are useful players, but Choo said, “I will do in Game 7 what I did in the last two games and give big minutes to the starting five.”
Choi, the Xports analyst, said the Phoebus are excellent at involving perimeter players, such as forwards Lee Byung-suk and Kim Dong-woo, into their offensive scheme. Choi said that how Yoo employs the 208-centimeter (6-foot-10) center Chris Burgess in the rotation will determine the team’s fate in Game 7.
Choi’s logic was that the more Burgess can score in the low block (he has scored seven points in each of the last two games), the less burden there will be on Yang and Williams.
On the defensive end, Burgess has been unable to contain the Ricci-McGhee duo in the paint, even though he is taller than both of them (Ricci is 6-7 and McGhee is 6-8). Ricci scored a team-high 35 points in Game 5, while McGhee dropped the game-high 23 in Game 6.
Asked if he will play Burgess more ―he has played about 20 minutes in the past two games ― Yoo didn’t give a clear answer. “It depends how [Burgess] feels tomorrow and whether the situation calls for his presence.”
Choi Hee-am, coach of the KBL’s ET Land Black Slamer, has done commentating work for MBC during the finals. He said it will be defense that wins a championship, noting that the Phoebus failed to adequately respond to the post attacks of Ricci and McGhee. “The final game will be won or lost on how the Phoebus come out and defend their low post,” Choi said.
By Yoo Jee-ho Staff Writer [jeeho@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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