Moon Yoo-hyun and Kim Seung-woo raved about by professional coaches, but who will defeat their rivals and bring their team to the championship?
On the 26th, the quarterfinals of the 40th MBC Bae National College Basketball Jangju Tournament were held at the new Jangju Gymnasium. Goyang Sono head coach Kim Seung-ki and Seoul Samsung coaches Kim Hyo-beom and Choi Soo-hyun were on hand to check on the players.
The two coaches, who watched the KU-KU game, praised Moon Yoo-hyun. Moon Yoo-hyun single-handedly led the team to the final as Kim Do-eun was yet to find his form after returning from injury and Park Jung-hwan left 안전놀이터 the team.
Coach Kim Hyo-beom said, “It’s hard to believe that he’s a sophomore, and his attitude towards basketball is amazing. He is the player who stood out the most,” and coach Kim Seung-ki also praised him, saying, ”I think Moon Yoo-hyun is the best among college guards. He is ahead of the other competitors.”
In the game between Yonsei and Chung-Ang University, Kim was the standout performer. He scored a team-high 20 points (4 three-pointers) with a steadiness that belied his freshman status, giving his team a valuable victory.
Coach Kim Seung-ki, who is known for favoring players who can shoot well in the pros, said of Kim, “There were some players who stood out in the Yonsei and Chung-Ang games, and Kim is the best among them. He showed up.”
“Kim Seung-woo is a player with excellent shooting accuracy and a good understanding of basketball,” said Kim Hyo-beom. I felt like we were playing smart basketball together with Lee Min-seo and Kim Hyo-beom,” he said.
Both SONO and Samsung failed to reach the POs last season and are among the four teams with the highest probability of rotational picks. Kim Seung-ki and Kim Hyo-beom mentioned and checked out a variety of players, but the two players they raved about the most were Moon Yoo-hyun of Korea University and Kim Seung-woo of Yonsei University.
Coincidentally, the two teams are longtime rivals and will meet in the final for the trophy. KU beat Yonsei in the final last year and the year before, while Yonsei won the title three years ago.
KU field commander Moon Yoo-hyun, who is looking to win his third straight title, said, “It’s really the last time. If we lose, it’s over, and we’ll play for the team. My older brothers, teammates, and juniors are all doing their part. I think I just need to keep my head up. I’ve been playing poorly, but I’ll prove that it’s different on the big stage. I’m determined to win the championship for my coach and manager, for my brothers who are injured and can’t play with me, and for Moo Bin and Jung Hyun, who helped us grow last year.”
Kim Seung-woo responded with an uncharacteristic ambition for a freshman. “I’m nervous and excited because it’s my first time playing against Goryeo. I think it’s worth it if you look at our current atmosphere and what we’ve done. Right now, I don’t care about what people think of me, I just want to do my best for the team. I’ll try to do my best to help the team. If we do our best, we can win,” he said, expressing confidence.
The two aces lead Korea University and Yonsei University, two of the top teams in Korean college basketball. Moon Yoo-hyun and Kim Seung-woo have been praised by professional coaches, but who will be the one to beat their rivals and win the championship?