Lee Seon Albano (185cm, G) must have felt more regret than anyone else.
Wonju DB lost to Changwon LG 74-76 in the regular 2022-2023 SKT A-Dot professional basketball league held at Changwon Indoor Gymnasium on the 3rd. Kim Joo-seong failed in his first five-game winning streak after becoming acting manager. With 16 wins and 21 losses, it was tied for 7th place with Suwon KT.
DB missed Heo Woong (185cm, G), who was the main scorer after the end of the 2021-2022 season. They needed resources to release attacks from the outskirts. The reason for bringing back Doo Kyung-min (183cm, G), who was the regular league MVP for the 2017-2018 season.
Doo Kyung-min is the best guard in the league. He is a player with a variety of options, such as tireless stamina, speed that can be displayed at any moment, precise shooting and two-on-two deployment.
However, he stagnated somewhat in the 2021-2022 season. This is because of a knee injury suffered before the opening and several injuries suffered during the season. During this off-season, he complained of knee pain and underwent simple knee surgery. He could not even participate in the opening game of the 2022-2023 season. He recently left due to a calf injury.
Even so, DB’s lead hasn’t weakened too much. This is because there is Lee Seon Albano, who was recruited by the Asian quota system. A point guard who has a career in Germany’s second division and has the ability to control the tempo and attack power. He has been very active this season with 13.6 points, 5.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals in an average of 29 minutes and 27 seconds.
Several KBL coaches who faced Albano also said, “I think Albano is the best among the Filipino players recruited in the Asian Quarter. He is cool-headed and selfless, and can implement a variety of offensive options,” he said, highly appreciating Albano’s capabilities.
Of course, there is an element of anxiety. Doo Kyung-min left due to knee surgery, and Kim Jong-gyu (206cm, C), the key big man, is not perfect. Kang Sang-jae (200cm, F) is on the rise, but the team facing DB can easily hold Albano in check. In addition, DB’s opponent, LG, has many advanced defensive resources such as Yoon Won-sang (181cm, G) and Lee Kwan-hee (191cm, G).
However, Albano moved more than LG ahead. It was like that for all airlifters. He was also active in assisting defense. He even managed to develop a quick attack and finish a quick attack. In particular, the single fast attack and basket count, which he made 3 minutes and 55 seconds after the start of the game, were enough to calm the LG atmosphere.
Albano moved smartly without the ball. After giving the ball to a colleague, he fell into the right corner and finished the pass of Choi Seung-wook (195cm, F) with 3 points. After that, he even showed off a right-handed double-clutch layup. Despite playing only 6:3 in the first quarter, he recorded 10 points (2:3/3, 3:1/1, free throw: 1/1), 2 assists and 2 rebounds (1 offense). Looking at the first quarter alone, it was 10 out of 10.
After a break, Albano became more aggressive in the second quarter. Instead he moved leisurely. He added upper body fakes and jab steps, and also utilized DB big man’s screen. With multiple options, Albano were able to score from a variety of areas. 안전놀이터
Those who block Albano had no choice but to pay attention to Albano’s attack. But as I mentioned earlier, Albano is a guard with a passing sense. He helped Leonard Freeman (198cm, F) score with a momentary pass from the baseline.
However, Albano’s attack success rate gradually declined. DB’s fast scoring pace also fell. 22.3 seconds before the end of the 2nd quarter, the score was tied (36-36). Albano attempted the last attack in the second quarter, but Yun Won-sang’s pressure defense committed a half-court violation. DB induced LG’s turnover in the next defense, but did not gain the advantage like in the 1st quarter.
DB, which had a close battle structure, did not use Albano excessively. Park Chan-hee (190cm, G) and Kim Hyun-ho (184cm, G) were used alternately.
However, both Park Chan-hee and Kim Hyeon-ho are better at defending and managing the game. When Albano was missing, the guard’s score was lacking. Kang Sang-jae and Kim Jong-gyu scored, but DB, which did not come out with various attack routes, showed its limits. The third quarter ended 54-59.
Albano, who came to the court early in the fourth quarter, retired to the bench 3 minutes and 39 seconds after the start of the fourth quarter. He was off the court for 2 minutes and 29 seconds. However, Jeong Ho-yeong (188cm, G), who replaced Albano, exposed a loophole in the defense. DB, whose defense fell, was pushed to 66-73 4 minutes and 10 seconds before the end of the game.
Acting DB coach Joo-Sung Kim used the second time-out in the second half. Albano re-entered the court. With various options based on breakthrough, a close battle with LG was formed. 2 minutes and 1 second before the end of the game, it was reversed (74-73).
However, DB could not hold out for the last 1 minute and 30 seconds. Albano tried the last shot, but the come-from-behind drama was not complete. Despite recording 19 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 27 minutes and 28 seconds, neither DB nor Albano could laugh.
Acting DB coach Kim Joo-seong also said after the game, “If Albano runs all 10 minutes in the 4th quarter, there will be a case where it doesn’t work at the end. He gave me a break in the middle to let him run even one more minute at the end. However, other players have to attack, so Albano’s rest timing is perfectly formed. But he didn’t. That was the reason why Albano was weak at the end,” he regretted.
