Will Samsung's "Escape the Last Place" come true

Professional basketball Seoul Samsung continued its hope to escape last place with Lee Jung-hyun's thrilling buzzer beater.

Samsung beat Ulsan Hyundai Mobis 94-91 in the 2023-2024 professional basketball regular league home game held at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul on the 18th.

Samsung, which recorded 13 wins and 37 losses, is still in the bottom 10th place, but has been on the rise with three wins and one loss in the last four games. On the other hand, Hyundai Mobis confirmed its advance to the round of 6 playoffs, but has been mired in agony as it has been sluggish in the last six games with one win and five losses.

Lee Jung Hyun, two dramatic buzzerbeaters... As expected of a star

Samsung led the game with Lee Jung-hyun and Kofi Coburn from the first quarter. It also displayed strong commitment to victory by actively defending from the beginning. However, Hyundai Mobis finished the first quarter tied at 18-18, as Gage Prim and Kim Jun-il boldly targeted under the basket.

The competition continued in the second quarter as well. Samsung, which struggled with "young blood" Cha Min-seok, finished the first half with a 38-36 lead, but the score was wide enough to be overturned at any time.

Samsung regained strength in the third quarter. Coburn dominated the paint zone, and Lee Jung-hyun steadily contributed to its offense. Notably, Samsung's lead in rebounding led to a 61-52 run.

Hyundai Mobis did not back down. Park Moo-min and Ham Ji-hoon hit three-pointers in succession to chase after each other, and successfully turned the tables as Prim's breakthrough under the basket was effective. However, Samsung dramatically extended the game with Lee Jung-hyun's three-pointer with three seconds left in the fourth quarter.

That was not the end of the game. The two teams, which also had a close game in overtime, faced off 91-91, and Samsung won as Lee Jung-hyun's three-point shot soared high off the rim with 0.9 seconds left in the game.

I can't come in last for three years in a row... Samsung didn't give up

For Samsung, Coburn played a "double-double" with 35 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists. On top of that, Hong Kyung-gi added 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and Cha Min-seok added 11 points, five rebounds, and one assist.

However, it was Lee Jung-hyun who won the game. He saved his team from the brink of defeat in the fourth quarter and hit a buzzer-beater that sealed his victory in the playoff, sending his team flying with 26 points, three rebounds, and seven assists.

Samsung started rebuilding after Moon Tae-young and Ra Gun-ah left, but failed repeatedly and fell into a "neighborhood drum" status. After years of wandering the lower ranks, they won top picks in the rookie draft and swept prospects, but failed to cultivate them as players suitable for the professional stage.

Samsung seemed to finish at the bottom of the table for the third consecutive year, let alone spring basketball, as it has lost consecutive games this season, but Samsung, which has narrowed its gap with ninth-ranked Anyang Jeonggwanjang to three games as it has recently risen, aims to escape from last place.

In particular, Lee Jung-hyun, one of the oldest in Samsung, didn't give up until the end and hit a buzzer-beater to awaken the team. Lee Jung-hyun, who has been wearing the Samsung uniform since last season, is said to have passed his prime, but he has shown rusty skills as he has been a troubleshooter in every match.

Attention is focusing on whether Samsung, which has been on the rise further due to the dramatic victory of the day, will emerge from the last place and achieve the "beauty of the species." 안전놀이터 추천