Weekend Picks

BASKETBALL

KBL playoff first round

Sixth seeded Wonju Dongbu Promy at third seeded Goyang Orion Orions

7 p.m. Friday, Goyang Gymnasium, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province

Third seeded Goyang Orion Orions will take on sixth seeded Wonju Dongbu Promy on Friday at home in the first round of KBL playoff.

Tensions were high between the two teams at the press conference on Tuesday. When asked about the outcome of the five game series, Promy guard Heo Ung suggested that Promy will defeat the Orions by 3 to 1. Kim Joo-sung, the star center for Promy who’s been out of the game for six weeks due to a knee injury, is likely to return for the playoff. This gives a much anticipated boost for Promy in their starting lineup.

In response to Heo’s comment, Orions forward Lee Seung-hyun said Orions will finish the series in the first three games, advancing to the semi-finals after the game on Mar. 1 at Wonju.

Orions record with Promy during the season was four wins and three losses.

This is their first game in the series. The Orions and Promy will play the second game in the series at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Goyang.

Women’s Korean Basketball League

Chuncheon Woori Bank Hansae (26-6) at Cheongju KB Stars (16-16)

7 p.m. Friday, Cheongju Gymnasium, Cheongju, North Chungcheong

Coming out of a big win against Bucheon KEB Hana Bank last Sunday after beating Hana Bank by 27 points, No.1 Woori Bank is going into today’s game without much pressure.

Woori Bank has already secured its fourth straight WKBL regular season title after its victory against the Cheongju KB Stars on Feb. 7 and there are only two games left in the season including today’s game. This means Woori Bank will automatically advance to the final.

As the top three teams from the regular season qualify for the playoffs, No.3 KB Stars will have to fight their way through until the end of the season as they are competing against the Yongin Samsung Blueminx for the third and last spot in the playoffs. Samsung and KB stars are currently tied in the league standing. With five-game winning streak, the KB Stars have the momentum at the moment.