Anyang KGC, led by head coach Kim Sang-sik, has won its fourth straight game at the 42nd William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan.
KGC, the KBL’s inaugural champion for the 2022-2023 season, improved to 6-1 with a 99-97 victory over Chinese Taipei B in Game 7 of the tournament at Taipei Heping Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on Nov. 19. Korea is now in sole possession of third place behind the United States (UC Irvine) and Chinese Taipei A (both with six or more wins).
Ko Chan-hyuk’s three-pointer in the first quarter set the game on fire. Ko Chan-hyuk, whose confidence as a three-point shooter has been completely boosted by this tournament, exploded for 16 points in the first quarter, knocking down four 3-pointers (6 attempts, 66.7% success rate) in just 7:22 of play. Forward Chung Jun-wen also had a good showing from inside and outside with eight points, including one three-pointer.
The young Taiwan B team played with a lot of heart but was sloppy. A team foul with 7:10 left in the first quarter gave Korea the advantage. Ko Chan-hyuk attacked Chinese Taipei with three-pointers and drive-ins, while Jung Jun-won was also active under the basket. With 1:35 left, the score was 32-23. The first quarter ended at 32-30, as Chinese Taipei continued to chip away at the lead with three-pointers and drives to the basket.
A three-pointer from Heng Kaichi at the start of the second quarter briefly turned the tide. KGC responded with a post offense utilizing Duvon Maxwell, and the game remained a seesaw until the final minutes. Taking advantage of Taiwan’s foul trouble, Jung Jun-Won and Maxwell drew post-up free throws and both made them. Then, with the score 50-48 with 1:24 left, Kim Kyung-won scored a tip-in off an offensive rebound and gave Taiwan two points, but Chung Hyo-geun made both foul shots with 48 seconds left. That’s how the first half ended with a 54-50 lead.
Team Taiwan B started the third quarter with a three-pointer from Adam Hinton. Lin Hsing-kuan followed with a post-up and two free throws to make it 56-54. KGC took advantage of a small lineup minus Maxwell and Jung Hyo-geun, but Park Ji-hoon immediately answered with a pinpoint three from the top of the key. Maxwell then came in to strengthen the defense under the basket.
Once the defense was stabilized, Jung Hyo-geun was able to hit his three-pointers with confidence. Chung made all three of his threes in the middle of the quarter to give his team the lead. However, Taiwan B’s offense was no slouch. Post-ups and three-pointers from brothers Adam Hinton and Robert Hinton, who are of mixed race, kept the game a seesaw. KGC regained the lead at 73-73 with 42 seconds left in regulation on a mid-range jumper by Maxwell. Two free throws from Chen Mingxue tied the game again, but Maxwell hit a fiery slam dunk with two seconds left to regain a two-point lead and send the game into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Chinese Taipei utilized the post-ups of their taller players, including Machien-Hao and Chiang Chun, but KGC remained unfazed. At the 9:06 mark, Park Ji-hoon made a reverse layup and another free throw from under the basket, followed by a steal by Jung Jun-won and two free throws from Ko Chan-hyuk on the fast break to extend the lead to 86-82 with 6:50 left. They went on to take an 88-84 lead with 4:27 left before Chung hit a three-pointer to make it 91-84. The gap was too much for the less polished Taiwan B team to overcome. With momentum on their side, KGC finally took a double-digit lead at 94-84 with 3:54 left when Chung Hyo-geun, who had a no-mark opportunity from the top of the key, hit a three-pointer.
Chinese Taipei B tried to catch up with a Robert Hinton three with a minute left, but time ran out. With 17 seconds left, Maxwell made one of two free throws after being fouled to make it 99-91. It looked like the game would end the way it did, but a last-ditch effort by Chinese Taipei B shone through. Machien-Hao hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left and then another with three seconds left to pull within 97-99. But there wasn’t enough time to pull off the upset. 카지노
KGC was led by Ko Chan-hyuk and Maxwell with 23 points apiece, while Jung Jun-won (19 points, two 3-pointers), Jung Hyo-geun (17 points, seven rebounds) and Park Ji-hoon (11 points, seven assists) also scored in double figures.