Kim Nak-hyun, who returned from injury, and Belangel, who has been in tremendous form lately, led the team’s comeback and escape from the losing streak.
In the final game of the second round of the 2023-24 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball League at the 스포츠토토 Goyang Sono Arena on the evening of the 8th, Daegu KOGAS led the entire game with five players scoring in double digits and held on for an 80-74 victory.
Samjosef Belangel, who has been a stalwart at guard through the difficult circumstances of back-to-back losses, led the team’s offense with 20 points (3 rebounds, 5 assists) on 80% field goal percentage, including 4 three-pointers against Sono, while Kim Nak-hyun, who made his comeback from injury midway through the first quarter, also played over 25 minutes and finished with 12 points (3 rebounds, 2 assists).
Andrew Nicholson, who played 18 minutes, had 10 points and seven rebounds despite a 3-point shooting slump, while Duvan Maxwell, who played nearly 22 minutes, chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.
Captain Chabawi, who played 28:29, second only to Belangel, who played nearly 30 minutes, also paved the way for his team’s victory with 11 points, including three three-pointers.
Kim Dong-liang also contributed five rebounds and six points, while Park Ji-hoon also made a valuable contribution with eight points, as GASCO wrapped up the second round with its third win of the season and heads into the third round with a victory.
Coach Kang Hyuk also cited captain Chabawi’s defense and his ability to hit three-pointers at key moments as a decisive factor in the win, and he credited his two guards, Kim Nak-hyun and Belangel, who returned from injury, as the driving force behind the perimeter’s success.
Kim Nak-hyun, who revealed that his recovery status is around 70%, said that he decided to play considering the team’s difficult situation, and that he wanted to repay his coach’s faith in him with a win, so he was glad to get the victory and expressed his determination for a better team performance in the next game.
Despite winning with a good showing in defense, Kang Hyuk revealed that it might not be easy as they have to face Sono again on Sunday, and he added his prediction for the next game by saying, “Defense will be tough and offense will be a two-point fight.
After escaping from a lengthy last-place finish, GASCO will look to capitalize on the rejuvenated team spirit to record their first back-to-back wins of the season against the same opponent, Sono, in Goyang on the 10th.
