Seoul Cosmo faced a disappointing defeat in the Korea-Japan match but received a warm round of applause.
The NH Nonghyup Bank 2025 KXO 3x3 Seoul Sinchon Light Quest was held on the 21st at the special court in front of Hyundai Department Store in Sinchon, Seoul. A total of nine teams were divided into two groups to compete in the preliminary rounds on the 21st and determine the champion through a top six tournament on the 22nd.
The winning team of the tournament will receive a spot in the FIBA 3x3 Beijing Tongzhou Challenger 2025, which will be held in China this coming October.
Korea had three teams participating: Seoul Cosmo, Yonsei University, and Dongguk University. After defeating Yonsei University 21-14 in the preliminary round, Seoul Cosmo advanced to the finals with a record of one win and one loss. Yonsei University and Dongguk University were eliminated with two losses.
Seoul Cosmo concluded the tournament on the 22nd, losing to TGP Postpiece (Japan) 17-21 in a closely contested match. Although they lost, Seoul Cosmo garnered much applause from fans for their fighting spirit until the very end.
It was a remarkable game. Seoul continued to chase until there were four minutes left, trailing 10-13. Yoon Seong-soo's two-point shot narrowed the gap to 12-13. Kang Byung-jin was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game at 14-14.
The contest was decided by a narrow margin. With 2 minutes and 11 seconds remaining, Kang Byung-jin fell hard while attempting a block shot. Fortunately, it was not a serious injury. Kang Byung-jin made both free throws, bringing the score to 16-17.
The problem was defense. As the players' stamina waned, they often struggled to score while giving up easy points. With 23 seconds left, Kang Byung-jin's shot missed. Ultimately, Seoul suffered a heartbreaking defeat at 17-21.
That day in Sinchon, the temperature was 29 degrees Celsius with 43% humidity. The strong sunlight quickly drained the players' energy. Knowing that the players had given their all, the audience responded with warm applause.
After the game, Kang Byung-jin said, "I did not perform well. I missed an easy shot that I should have made. My stamina dropped in the second half. Being shorter, I had to run even harder." He expressed his disappointment over the loss.
Although Seoul Cosmo was missing Jeong Sung-jo, the addition of big man Choi Yang-sun improved the team's balance. Seoul Cosmo is solidifying its position as the strongest team in the country, including winning the All-Park Tour.
Kang Byung-jin noted, "Having Choi Yang-sun, who contributes height, is great. Yoon Seong-soo has also been selected as a national team member and has improved his skills. We have specialized in 3x3 training, which gives us an edge."
The Sinchon Light Quest, held at the special court in Sinchon, was a huge success in terms of attendance. Many spectators were drawn to the charm of outdoor games. Kang Byung-jin commented, "There were so many spectators, which felt great. I was more energized today and worked hard. After a rest and reorganization, we will aim for good results in the remaining tournaments."
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