Woori Won win opening game of WKBL Championship

Kim Dan-bi of the Asan Woori Bank Woori Won, right, shoots during a WKBL Championship game against Busan BNK Sum at Yi Sun-sin Icerink Gymnasium in Asan, South Chungcheong on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Asan Woori Bank Woori Won beat Busan BNK Sum 62-56 in the first leg of the five-game 2022-23 WKBL Championship at Yi Sun-sin Icerink Gymnasium in Asan, South Chungcheong on Sunday, earning some early security ahead of the second game on Tuesday.

The Asan side, who won the league title, proved why they were the strongest team this season with a dominant performance in Sunday’s game.

The first quarter was neck-and-neck as it ended 22-22, but the Woori Won took the second quarter with ease and ended the quarter 42-26.

BNK attempted to bounce back in the third quarter but could not close the gap, falling behind the Asan side at 56-42.

The Busan side again failed to turn things around in the fourth quarter, eventually losing the game 62-56.

The Woori Won now have a one-game lead going into the second leg.

The Woori Won landed in the championship after sweeping the Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds in the playoffs, while BNK did the same to the Yongin Samsung Life Blue Minx.

The championship could end in the third leg on Thursday if the Woori Won win the next two games. The latest the series can end is March 27.

If the Woori Won win, it will be the Asan team's 12th title.

They have won the championship 11 times, including the 2019-20 season when they were recognized as technical winners despite not playing in the final game, because the season was halted when they were league leaders.

BNK are seeking their first championship title since they were re-founded as a new club in 2019. The Incheon Kumho Life Insurance Falcons, the team that predated BNK, won the title once in 2004.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]