Участник:KB-Hana OneQ meets for the first time on PO
Cheongju KB and Bucheon Hana One-Q will face off for the first time in the playoffs.
KB ranked No. 1 in the regular league during the 2023-2024 season. Unrivaled favorite for this season. And the first playoff game begins on the home turf.
KB will play against Hana One-Q. Hana One-Q advanced to the playoffs for the first time in its history. It will be its first playoff game in Korea.
When KB and Hana One-Q faced off for the last time in the regular season, the positions of the two teams were different. Hana One-Q was competing for fourth place, while KB confirmed its regular league No. 1. So while KB was somewhat comfortable, Hana One-Q was on edge. Hana One-Q made good use of the tension in the early part of the game. It pushed KB with a gritty performance. In particular, it had a strong one-two punch consisting of Jihyun Shin (174 cm, G) and Yang In-young (184 cm, F). So Hana One-Q was able to finish the first half 44-31. However, KB showed off its potential. A triangle formation consisting of Park Jisoo (196 cm tall, C), Kang Yi-seul (180 cm tall, F), and Heo Ye-eun (165 cm tall, G) was powerful. Three players changed the mood from the third quarter, and KB turned the game upside down in the fourth quarter. It came from behind to win 71-64.
As the records above show, KB has never lost a match against Hana One-Q this season. It was particularly strong against Hana One-Q, although it was naturally strong. In particular, it won the match by nearly 30 points in the fifth round. In addition, KB has experienced many big games. It has a solid central axis – Park Jisoo and Kang Yi-seul – and Heo Ye-eun has also grown. There are also plenty of defensive cards, including Yeom Yoon-ah (176 cm, G), Kim Ye-jin (174 cm, F), and Kim Min-jung (181 cm, F). However, Hana OneQ did not collapse easily in all matches with KB. In the fourth and sixth rounds, the team almost beat KB. "Hana OneQ is definitely not easy," KB coach Kim Wan-soo said. In addition, Hana One Q has a veteran player named Kim Jong Un (180 centimeters, F). If Kim Jong Un keeps the balance, Hana One Q players could revolt. Most of all, there is nothing to lose. Few people expect Hana One Q to win.