KCC Becomes First Sixth-Seed to Win Pro Basketball Championship... Seventh Title Overall

Heo Hoon Named MVP for Averaging 15.2 Points and 9.8 Assists
Lee Sangmin Makes History by Winning as Player, Assistant Coach, and Head Coach at KCC

The professional basketball team Busan KCC has become the first ever sixth-seeded team in the regular season to win the championship finals. With this victory, KCC has achieved its seventh championship title overall, tying with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis as the team with the most KBL championships.

On May 13 at Goyang Sono Arena, KCC defeated Goyang Sono 76-68 in Game 5 of the 2025-2026 LG Electronics Professional Basketball Championship Finals. After winning the first three games and dropping Game 4, KCC clinched the series by winning Game 5, closing out the finals with a 4-1 record.

KCC has reclaimed the championship after two years. Last season, KCC made history as the first fifth-seeded team in KBL history to win the regular season championship. This season, they wrote a new chapter by becoming the first sixth-seeded team to win the title.

On the 13th, at Goyang Sono Arena, professional basketball players from Busan KCC, who won the 2025-2026 KBL Playoffs Championship Final Game 5 against Goyang Sono Scygunners with a score of 76-68, are cheering while holding the trophy. Photo by Yonhap News.

Head coach Lee Sangmin achieved a rare feat by winning championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. In professional basketball, Lee Sangmin is the fourth individual to win titles in all three roles, following former Sono head coach Kim Seunggi, Seoul SK head coach Jeon Heechul, and Changwon LG head coach Cho Sanghyun.

However, Coach Lee became the first ever to accomplish this triple crown exclusively with KCC. He won three championships as a player with KCC (including its predecessor Hyundai), captured the title as an assistant coach in the 2023-2024 season, and now, in his first season as KCC's head coach, lifted the championship trophy.

KCC's Heo Hoon was named the Playoff Most Valuable Player (MVP). In the five games of this championship series, Heo Hoon averaged 15.2 points, 9.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Receiving 79 out of 98 votes from the press, he celebrated both his first championship and his first Playoff MVP honor. This also marks a family milestone, with three members—his father, former head coach Hur Jae, his brother Heo Ung, and himself—earning Playoff MVP honors.

Although KCC showed signs of fatigue and suffered their first finals loss in Game 4, they dominated from the outset in Game 5 after a two-day break.

In the early part of the first quarter, Choi Junyong and Heo Hoon scored consecutive baskets, giving KCC a 9-0 lead. Heo Ung then hit two three-pointers, allowing KCC to finish the first quarter ahead 25-12. While Sono's Lim Dongseob attempted to close the gap with a three-pointer, Sono struggled to break through KCC's strong defensive pressure. KCC limited Sono's field goal percentage to the 20% range in the first half, heading into halftime with a commanding 42-23 lead.

Busan KCC's Heo Hoon, selected as the 2025-2026 KBL Playoffs Most Valuable Player (MVP), is cheering after finishing his net-cutting celebration. Photo by Yonhap News

In the third quarter, Sono began to narrow the gap, led by Knight's inside play. However, star player Lee Junghyun struggled to find his rhythm, scoring only 2 points in the first half but coming alive late in the third quarter with four consecutive points.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Lee Junghyun made his first three-pointer of the game and went on to hit three three-pointers in the final quarter, leading Sono's comeback attempt. In the middle of the fourth, Sono scored seven consecutive points with Knight's free throws, Kemba O's dunk, and Lee Junghyun's three-pointer, reducing the deficit to 11 points. With 1:14 left in the game, Lee Junghyun's third three-pointer brought Sono within eight points. However, despite securing multiple offensive rebounds in the ensuing possessions, Lim Dongseob and Lee Jae-do both missed their three-point attempts, preventing Sono from closing the gap any further.

KCC sealed their victory with a powerful dunk by Shawn Long to celebrate their championship.

For KCC, Heo Ung scored 17 points, including five three-pointers, while Heo Hoon contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Choi Junyong had 15 points and 6 rebounds, Song Gyochang added 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Shawn Long tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

For Sono, Knight led the team with 26 points and 5 rebounds, Lee Junghyun posted 15 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, and Lim Dongseob recorded 11 points and 5 rebounds.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.