Former Shinhan Bank acting manager Lee Si-jun has returned as a youth coach.
The NH Nonghyup Bank 2025 Jeongseon Global Youth Basketball Super Cup (hereinafter referred to as the Super Cup) was held on the 18th at the Jeongseon Sabuk Youth Scholarship Center. Now in its fourth year, the Super Cup has transformed into a large-scale international event with a total of 70 teams and over 1,200 players participating across 9 categories, including U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U15, U18, and girls' elementary school.
An encouraging face was seen during the tournament. It was Coach Lee Si-jun, who served as acting manager at Shinhan Bank until last season. He is currently teaching players as a coach for the Bundang Samsung youth team.
When asked about his recent situation, Coach Lee Si-jun noted, "I took a break and worked as a college basketball commentator. I got to know Coach Kim Jeong-hwan, who gave me a great opportunity to come to Bundang Samsung. I wanted to gain various experiences in basketball. I've always had a lot of interest in youth basketball," and he smiled brightly.
Last season, Shinhan Bank's manager, Koo Na-dan, unexpectedly left the position due to health issues. Coach Lee Si-jun suddenly took over as acting manager. Shinhan Bank finished with a record of 12 wins and 18 losses, tying with KB Stars, but unfortunately missed out on the playoffs due to a lower point differential, finishing in 5th place.
Reflecting on the last season, Coach Lee Si-jun said, "We missed the playoffs by a small margin at the end of last season. There were many disappointing moments during the season. It was tough, but I gained great experiences." Coach Koo Na-dan has also recently recovered his health and is teaching youth players at Wonju YKK.
The selection of Hong Yoo-soon, who played alongside Shinhan Bank, is good news. Coach Lee Si-jun commented, "I congratulated Hong Yoo-soon for going to the national team. She is doing well as a backup center. Seeing such a smart player perform well makes me feel happy. It seems she is recognized by her seniors and doing well," he couldn't hide his pride.
What is it like to coach youth basketball directly at the club? The coach remarked, "I was impressed that the player pool is better than that of the elite. The players have a good attitude towards learning. Bundang Samsung's system is exceptionally well structured. The parents also provide great support."
Club basketball is becoming increasingly important. Many players learn basketball at clubs before transitioning to elite teams. Coach Lee Si-jun stated, "I only played professionally with Samsung and received a lot of benefits. Seeing children wear Samsung uniforms and play makes me feel good. The professional affiliation designation system has been established. I want to raise players well to contribute to the team."
In youth basketball, emphasizing fundamentals can never be overstated. The key is how entertainingly you can teach a tough sport. Coach Lee Si-jun expressed, "When learning basketball for the first time, fundamentals are important. I will study and teach how children can be faithful to the fundamentals while making basketball interesting."
[OSEN]