Sono lost 80-88 in the second Group C match of the 2023 MG Saemaul Geumgo KBL Cup at Wolmyeong Gymnasium in Gunsan on the 12th. Sono, who lost two consecutive games due to the loss, was eliminated from the tournament.
Sono had difficulties this season. This is because it is late to set up a new team after being acquired from Goyang Day One to Sono. It was not clear whether the squad would be recruited. They made a foreign team with Jerod Jones and Anthony Bennett, but they have to find foreigners again with Bennett leaving. Lee Jung-hyun and Jeon Sung-hyun are not in perfect shape as they return from the national team.
Therefore, manager Kim Seung-ki focused all his efforts on checking the players' condition rather than winning.
Director Kim Seung-ki said, "(Former) Sung-hyun was in bad shape. Regardless of winning or losing today, Sung-hyun was able to find a sense of touch, but I think he had a good sense of touch in the start was bad. And he said he wanted to rest in the second half, so he let me rest."
"Jones was also in bad shape. I ran too much in the first round. "I lost my weight because I played a lot," he said. "I tried to win at least one game because it was a new team, but it is difficult because there is no foreign player." I did everything I could," he added.
Sono's cup is over. Now all the focus is on the opening game. "I've been a coach for nine years," Kim Seung-ki said. "If you're pushed back at the beginning of the season, I think you'll be pushed back to the end," he said. "We'll increase the proportion of Sung-hyun and (Lee) Jung-hyun." I'm going to cut it down little by little from the second. If the team collapses after arranging physical strength, the team will continue to collapse. I will do my best from the first round. I will turn the rotation to seven to eight people," he stressed.
What's left now is players' condition recovery and coordination. Head coach Kim Seung-ki said, "It should be 100% from the opening game. We have to run erratically to beat our opponents. I think foreign players will be resolved next week. "I'm going to have a proper match from the opening game on the 22nd," he said, expressing his will.