Kang Sang-jae (200cm, F) was once again the vanguard of the DB.
Wonju DB defeated Daegu Korea Gas Corporation 71-65 in the 2022-2023 SKT A-Dot Pro Basketball regular league held at Wonju General Gymnasium on the 26th. He recorded his second three-game winning streak of the season. It is the first three consecutive victories in the system of acting coach Kim Joo-seong. With 15 wins and 20 losses, he ranked 7th alone. 1.5 games behind 6th place Jeonju KCC (16-18).
DB is traditionally a team that takes ‘height’ as its strength. Especially in the 2011-2012 season. Kim Joo-seong (current Wonju DB acting manager), Yun Ho-young (196cm, F), and Rod Benson (206cm, C) showed the splendor of ‘height’ and ‘defense’. It marked the beginning of Wonjusanseong Fortress.
However, Kim Joo-seong retired from active duty after the 2017-2018 season, and DB needed new tall resources. The reason for recruiting Kim Jong-gyu (206cm, C), who was released as a free agent (FA) after the 2019-2020 season. Yun Ho-young, Kim Jong-gyu, and Chinanu Onuaku (206cm, C) have built another fortress.
The trade was carried out after the end of the 2020-2021 season. I brought Park Chan-hee (190cm, G) and Kang Sang-jae from Korea Gas Corporation. The key was Kang Sang-jae. Kang Sang-jae is a stretch big man with a high shooting distance. He was a resource that could create synergy with Kim Jong-gyu.
However, Kang Sang-jae and Kim Jong-gyu failed to create a synergistic effect. The lines of movement overlapped, and the amount of activity was insufficient. So, the height of the two players was rather a weakness. The reason DB struggled at the beginning of the season.
However, Kang Sang-jae has recently awakened. Instead of Kim Jong-kyu, who was missing due to injury, he took on the role of the main big man, and even after Kim Jong-kyu’s return, he is showing active air defense movements. Lee Seon-he is in charge of the team’s one-two punch with Albano (185cm, G). 안전놀이터
Kang Sang-jae, who was included in the starting lineup, showed active movement and a high field goal success rate (2 points: 3/4, 3 points: 1/1). Despite playing only 6:38 in the first quarter, he finished with 9 points and 1 steal. Responsible for 50% of DB 1st quarter scores (18 points).
At the beginning of the second quarter, I matched with Kim Jong-gyu. Utilizing his height and mobility, he showed a wide range of defense. The ball flow of KOGAS was properly blocked. In the 2nd quarter, the margin of gain is a whopping +10. It contributed to DB’s 7-point advantage (40-33).
However, DB’s performance quickly sank in the third quarter. Kang Sang-jae was like that too. Kim Jong-gyu and Dewan Hernandez (208cm, C) tried to show the power of height, but this was also not possible.
However, DB dominated the second half of the third quarter. It is because the turnover inducement in the front line shook Korea Gas Corporation. 6 points in a row at 51-49. The third quarter ended 57-49.
Kang Sang-jae approached the bottom of the goal with a ballless movement. The easy goal made the defense of Korea Gas Corporation collapse. 6.2 seconds before the end of the game, a free throw put a wedge in the game. Finished the game with 18 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds (attack 1) and 1 assist in 33 minutes and 27 seconds.