“I don’t think our team is finished yet, it’s a work in progress.”
Wonju DB, led by head coach Kim Joo-sung, won 85-76 against Changwon LG in the 2023-2024 Korean Basketball Organization regular season at 스포츠토토 Changwon Gymnasium.
DB hit 18 three-pointers and had six players score in double figures, including Dedrick Lawson (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Choi Seung-wook (20 points, 2 rebounds), in a 110-89 win over Goyang Sono on Nov. 22.
Lawson’s three-pointer early in the second quarter tied the game at 29-29 and set the tone for the team. Lawson (202 cm, 108.6 kg) finished with 29 points and six rebounds, Lee Sun Albano (183 cm, 80 kg) with 16 points, and Kang Sang-jae (200 cm, 107 kg) with 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team to victory.
Speaking after the game, head coach Kim Joo-sung said, “In the first half, we struggled with the double-team rotation to stop Marei. Fortunately, in the third and fourth quarters, we were able to get rebounds where their shots weren’t going in, and we were able to win the game. We were able to win because our players worked hard and did a good job.”
In the third quarter, DB lost the lead to LG Yoon Won-sang (181 cm, 75 kg) and Asem Marei (202.1 cm, 115.1 kg) to make it 49-50, but the lack of offense set the tone. Coach Kim said, “Our offense didn’t work well, but Lawson and Albano did a good job. In the past, we would lose close games or chase and lose. Now the players have a lot of strength to overcome.”
DB was able to turn the tables and pull out the win, despite allowing the game to slip away from them. “We have players who can break through in close games, so they’re doing a good job,” Kim said of the team’s difference from last season. “I don’t think we’re finished yet, but we’re still in the process. I think we will grow as the season goes on,” he said, adding that he is confident that the team will improve as they play more matches.