WEEKLY REVIEW

KGC and Egis hoping to maintain position, winning streak

Anyang KGC and Jeonju KCC Egis are tied for third and have won their last three games. But only one will hold on to third place and extend their winning streak as they meet at 7 p.m. tonight. KGC looks to be in better shape, coming off a 95-72 victory against league-best Goyang Orion Orions on Saturday, and they’re also benefitting from the game being at home.

The Egis had only a one-day rest after a thrilling 78-77 victory against Wonju Dongbu Promy on Sunday. But the Egis have beaten the KGC in two encounters this season.

After the critical matchup tonight, the KGC will meet the Seoul Samsung Thunders on Saturday, while the Egis will play against Incheon ET Land Elephants and the Orions on the weekend.

The three worst teams in the league are hoping to end their losing streaks this week. The Changwon LG Sakers and Seoul SK Knights haven’t won their last five games, while the Elephants have lost their last four.

The Sakers and Elephants play three games this week, with both squaring off against each other on Sunday in Incheon. The situation looks grim for the Knights as they face the league’s top two teams this week. The Knights host the Orions on Thursday, followed by an away game against Phoebus on Saturday.

Busan KT SonicBoom will play only one game on Sunday against the Promy at home. KT is hoping to extend its two-game winning streak.

2015/16 KBL standings

(As of Nov. 9)

Rank Team Win Loss GB

1 Goyang Orion Orions 16 3 -

2 Ulsan Mobis Phoebus 12 6 3.5

3 Jeonju KCC Egis 11 8 5

Anyang KGC 11 8 5

5 Seoul Samsung Thunders 9 9 6.5

6 Busan KT SonicBoom 9 10 7

7 Wonju Dongbu Promy 8 11 8

8 Incheon ET Land Elephants 7 12 9

9 Seoul SK Knights 6 11 9

10 Changwon LG Sakers 4 15 12

Player in focus: Aaron Haynes (Goyang Orions)

Aaron Haynes is now a living legend in the Korea Basketball League (KBL) after becoming the top foreign scorer in its history.

In a game against Anyang KGC on Saturday, the 34-year-old American scored 18 points to break the foreign player scoring record held by Johnny McDowell, who had 7,077 points after playing seven seasons in the KBL.

Unfortunately, Haynes couldn’t smile despite the record because his team was crushed 95-72 by the KGC.

It didn’t take long for Haynes to get his grin back. In a game against the Incheon ET Land Elephants on Sunday, he marked a triple-double after collecting 26 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists to lead his team’s 81-74 victory. It was the first triple-double recorded in this season.

Haynes, who now has 7,107 points and is the eighth top scorer in KBL history, said that this was also his first triple-double in his professional career, though the 1.99-meter forward revealed that he had done so once in an unofficial game in the NBA Summer League.

Haynes first landed in KBL in the middle of 2008/09 season as a replacement for the Seoul Samsung Thunders. He won a championship ring the following season with Ulsan Mobis Phoebus and was the top league’s scorer for two seasons, once with the Thunders and again with the Changwon LG Sakers.

Haynes is now looking for his second KBL title with league leader Orions and his third scoring title. He is currently the league’s top scorer, averaging 26.74 points per game.

Ricardo Powell returns to Incheon in different uniform

Ricardo Powell made his KBL debut with the Incheon ET Elephants in 2008. After playing in China, Iran and Israel, Powell returned to the KBL in 2012, again with the Elephants.

Since then, the 32-year-old American has been one of the most beloved players for the Elephants, helping the team make the playoffs for three straight seasons.

But because of the new foreign player draft system this season, Powell was forced to leave the Elephants, and was ultimately picked up by Jeonju KCC Egis.

Powell returned to the Elephants’ home court Samsan Gymnasium on Friday, albeit in a different uniform. Fans still welcomed him with cheers.

On the court, however, there was no mercy. Powell had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists to help the Egis win 87-80.