Park Ji-soo (196 cm, C) cried at the end.
Cheongju KB lost 62-68 to Asan Woori Bank in the first round of the Woori Bank Woori WON 2023-2024 Women’s Professional Basketball Championship held at Cheongju Gymnasium on the 24th. The odds of winning the championship fell to 28.1%. This is the chance of the losing team winning the first round (9/32).
Park Ji-soo was diagnosed with a “panic disorder” in August 2022. A disease caused by neurological damage. Therefore, Park could not guarantee the timing of his return. Park Ji-soo himself looked back, saying, “I tried to give up.”
KB, which lost its ace, fell into chaos. They prepared alternatives, but they had no choice but to leave a blank. The dignity of the defending champion has disappeared. KB eventually failed to advance to the playoffs. Park Ji-soo had to watch the situation outside the court.
However, Park returned to the court in the latter half of the 2022-2023 season. After the 2022-2023 season, Park also played in the Hangzhou Asian Games. He raged in the Park Shin-ja Cup held in late August 2023. Even though he was not 100% in condition, he scared his opponent.
If Park fully regains her physical condition and performance, both KB and Park can show off their strength for the 2021-2022 season. A unified victory can lay the foundation for the dynasty once again.
In fact, KB confirmed their regular league title after five rounds in the 2023-2024 season. All five remaining games are comfortable. So is Park. Although they did not achieve their goal of being the “all-round MVP,” they were able to prepare for the playoffs.
KB, which had already settled in the playoffs, met fourth-ranked Hana One Q. KB won three of its three games. Park advanced to the series with 19.7 points, 16.3 rebounds (attack 6.0) and 3.3 assists in an average of 33 minutes and 28 seconds, and 1.3 block shots. As a result, it will be the first championship game in two years after the 2021-2022 season.
Park Ji-soo received a double foul eight seconds into the game. However, both offense and defense rebounds were passionate. In particular, it was the second chance point following the offensive rebound, showing its natural power. KB also hit 7-0.
KB, however, saved Park as much as possible. Park was given a short break 4:53 before the end of the first quarter. Then, Park was given a break at the start of the second quarter as well. Park had to endure the “time without Park” as much as possible. If you watch the series for a long time, that was true.
However, the team trailed 16-13 at the first minute and 20 seconds of the second quarter. While Park was away, KB’s defensive rotation also got messy. KB manager Kim Wan-soo pointed it out after the timeout. However, Park did not include Park even after the timeout.
Park did not take long break, however. At 2:19 into the second quarter, he returned to the court. Park, who was deployed again, displayed once more combativeness. He exploded energy near the rim. Afterwards, Park contributed to his team by making offensive rebounds, scoring goals under the basket, and kick-out passes.
Despite Woori’s strengthened defense, Park Ji-soo’s combat power did not change. Won the offensive rebound even among more than three Woori Bank players. After that, he calmly scored near the rim. Somehow, he beat Woori’s chase.
But Park Ji-soo’s influence could not be everywhere. Moreover, Woori Bank explicitly used the side without Park Ji-soo. For that reason, neither KB nor Park Ji-soo saw a game in the first half. They finished the first half 32-33.
Park continued to cheer up in the paint zone. However, KB failed to block Kim Dan-bi (180 cm, G) from scoring three points. KB, which gave up three points, lost 34-39 at the first minute and 44 seconds into the third quarter. KB manager Kim Wan-soo, who was pushed back sharply, requested his first timeout in the second half.
Park continued to persevere inside. He continued to drive around the field. He also paved the way for shooters with his ballless screen. Kang Yi-seul (180 cm, F) and Lee Yoon-mi (172 cm, F) were able to score three points, while KB also turned the game around 45-41 just four minutes and 30 seconds before the end of the third quarter.
And Park put pressure on Woori players by participating in offense and rebounding. Two minutes and 17 seconds before the end of the third quarter, Park Ji-hyun (183 cm, G) made a foul, and the team made a free throw. He narrowed the gap between KB and Woori to 5 (49-44).
Park was obsessed with offensive rebounds even after that. He grabbed the offensive rebound even when he was lying down. And he immediately shot. “Lie down the way” was completed naturally. Thanks to Park’s tenacious scoring, KB finished the third quarter 53-46.
KB ran to 58-48 six minutes and 29 seconds before the game ended. It seemed certain that it would win. However, KB failed to block Woori’s quick attack and three points. It fell to 62-64 even 26.7 seconds before the game ended. They looked defeated.
Park Ji-soo tried to create chances no matter what. Nevertheless, KB was less powerful than Woori. It was like that in the first game. KB had to swallow its disappointment in the end. The same applied to Park, who displayed robust performance with 20 points and 16 rebounds (attack 8).
BY: 스포츠토토