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[Sports Seoul | Reporter Kim Dong-young] Anyang Jeonggwanjang answered back with a momentum-shifting win. After splitting the two home games, they head to Busan. A road sweep would’ve been ideal, but securing a split and changing the series’ flow was the bigger takeaway — and it was driven by Byun Jun-hyeong (30) and Han Seung-hee (28).
Jeonggwanjang went 1-1 in the first two semifinal games of the 2025~2026 LG Electronics Pro Basketball Playoffs against Busan KCC. Game 1 was a wake-up call — a 75-91 loss in which a team built on defense simply couldn’t get stops.
Game 2, however, was a different story: a 91-83 win. Allowing 83 points isn’t a defensive masterpiece, but the team made up the difference on offense, cracking the 90s — an uncommon feat for them during the regular season.
Over 54 regular-season games, Jeonggwanjang reached the 90s only five times. They typically overpower opponents with defense, so this offensive outburst — against the league’s top-scoring team, no less — was surprising and important.
The usual contributors stepped up. Johnny O’Bryant posted a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double. Park Ji-hoon added 9 points and 6 assists. Renz Abando chipped in 11 points and 3 rebounds.
There was also welcome news in the backcourt: “Korean Irving” Byun Jun-hyeong reawakened. After averaging 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the regular season, he managed just 3 points in Game 1 (1-of-5 from three).
Game 2 looked completely different. Byun finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, plus 2 steals. He did all his damage late — scoreless in the first half, five points in the third, then seven crucial points in the fourth to help close out the win.
Byun’s revival recharged the backcourt trio of Park Ji-hoon, Byun Jun-hyeong and Moon Yoo-hyun. Their pressure and scoring created balance; even if the series turns into a shootout, the guard play shouldn’t be outmatched.
Han Seung-hee embodied hustle. He was solid in Game 1 (7 points, 5 rebounds) and stepped up in Game 2 with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
He dove into plays all over the court. The standout moment came with 1:10 left in the fourth: Han out-battled Choi Jun-yong — roughly 4 cm taller — for a one-on-one rebound and converted it into a bucket, sealing the highlight of the night.
Kim Young-hyun is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Park Jung-woong is unlikely to return until the finals. Coach Yoo Do-hoon had emphasized how important Han’s role would be — and Han delivered.
The Game 1 loss was a shock, but the Game 2 win shifted the momentum entirely. Beyond the victory, Anyang gained confidence and depth — and that has turned the semifinals into a wide-open race. raining99@sportsseoul.com
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