SK won the 2023-2024 East Asian Super League (EASL) semifinal match against Chung Kwan-jang at Hoops Dome in Cebu, the Philippines, 94-79 on Sunday. SK, which won the runner-up prize after losing to Chung Kwan-jang in the final round of the championship last season, is aiming to become the champion once again. 안전 토토사이트
Jamil Warney had 36 points and 16 rebounds for SK. Oh Jae-hyun and Ahn Young-joon (13 points) and Leon Williams (11 points and 12 rebounds) both scored 20 points, including five three-point shots, also played their part. Five players including Robert Carter (21 points), Jamil Wilson (14 points), Lens Abando, Choi Seong-won (11 points) and Jeong Hyo-geun (10 points) struggled, but the team's defeat faded.
Chung took a narrow 26-23 lead in the first quarter. Chung opened the scoring with Chung Hyo-geun's layup shot, and Jamil Wilson, Park Ji-hoon and Choi Sung-won combined for four three-point shots to accumulate scores. SK staged a chase centering on Ahn Young-joon, who scored 10 points including two three-point shots.
Standing in front of his Filipino counterparts, Ahn scored a three-point shot early in the second quarter to grab the upper hand. However, SK instantly turned the tide by banking on its signature fast attack. SK's main gun Warney, who was tied at four points in the first quarter, scored 11 points in the second quarter alone, regaining his scoring ability. SK, which had 17 rebounds in the second quarter, also gained an upper hand in the battle for the right to offer to Chung, who had only six, and finished the first half with a 45-40 lead.
SK widened the gap as Warnie came back to life. Warnie, who targeted both inside and outside, added 14 points in the third quarter alone. On top of that, Oh Jae-hyun gave strength to the attack with an outside score that put in two 3-pointers. At the end of the third quarter, SK was ahead by 67-58 and nine points.
SK further ran away early in the fourth quarter when Oh Jae-hyun hit two three-point shots in succession. Based on the scores of Park Ji-hoon, Abando, and Jeong Hyo-geun, SK tried to keep up with Ahn until the last minute but failed to narrow the gap. Ahn Young-joon of SK took away the ball from Ahn Cheol-jun, who was leading 87-75 with a one-handed dunk, sealed the victory.
SK will play the winner of the semifinal match between the Chiba Jets (Japan) and the New Taipei Kings (Taiwan) at the final match that will take place at the same venue on Tuesday local time for the championship trophy. Chung will seek to bring about the beauty of Yoo Jong-jong in the final match of the third place.
After the game, SK manager Jeon Hee-chul said, “I'm very happy to be in the final. It was a close game as we failed to get our tempo to the opponent team's slow tempo attack in the first half, but after that, we found our pace. We were able to take the lead by blocking the opponent's outer area as well.”
SK, which finished in second place last year, will be able to challenge for the championship once again. “The other team has been analyzed,” coach Jeon said. “It is more important to utilize our strengths than to play according to the opponent.”
Jamil Warney, who led his team to the victory, said, “As the coach said, we struggled with slow tempo, but our team solved it well. We played so many games with Chung, and we knew each other well that it was a difficult game. I think he led the team to the victory because the team blocked the outskirts well,” adding, “I've only been in second place since the 12th grade, but I really want to win the championship. I don't know which team will come up, but I will do my best to win the championship.”
