Professional basketball in the 2022-23 season has entered the playoff (PO) schedule. Four out of six teams, including Goyang Carrot, which acquired the Orion club, will hold POs like last season. What draws attention is the performance of Anyang KGC, the regular league champion this season. KGC, which aims to win the championship for the first time in six years since the 2016-17 season, will go directly to the PO of the semifinals and face the winners of the PO of the semifinals of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in fourth place and Carrot in fifth place.
KGC center Oh Se-geun (36, 2m) stands in the center. In a recent interview with this magazine, Oh Se-geun said, “I have friends who are professional baseball players, so I enjoy baseball. Didn’t SSG Landers win the combined championship last season (regular league + Korean Series championship)? (I was so envious at the time, but KGC too) I think the envy will disappear only after winning the combined championship. I will do well from the PO in the semifinals to win the championship match,” he emphasized.
Oh Se-geun was the main player in winning the KGC regular league. Oh Se-geun, who graduated from Chung-Ang University and made his professional debut in 2011 after being nominated for the first round by KGC, was his 11th professional season this season. He has been consistently active. He appeared in 52 regular league games this season, averaging 27 minutes and 21 seconds, recording 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He also achieved a record of 3000 rebounds (3093), the 13th in professional basketball history.
Fans evaluated Oh Se-geun this season as having activated the ‘Geonse-geun Mode’. Gun Se-geun means ‘healthy Oh Se-geun’, which means that KGC’s performance is good if Oh Se-geun, who is frequently injured, is healthy. He played all 54 regular league games only in the 2016-17 season. In this season, KGC won the combined championship. He suffered frequent injuries in his ankle, plantar fasciitis, shoulder, and knee.
It is a disgraceful nickname for a player. This is because the images of injuries follow, whether they do well or not. Oh Se-geun also said, “The nickname ‘Keon Se-geun’ is a ‘double-edged sword’. I hope you will only look at it in a good direction,” he said. “My goal was to travel to all games this season. Missed 2 games due to team circumstances. It’s unfortunate, but it wasn’t that I couldn’t run because of an injury. It’s a personal season for me. could have done better I think it was a lack of effort.”
Currently, both of Oh Se-geun’s knees have little cartilage. He explains that he feels pain in his knee area when he runs on the court or when he falls. Due to the nature of sports involving frequent physical fights and a lot of jumping, his knees were not able to recover. After the game, I wrap his knee with an ice pack and manage it. Oh Se-geun said, “As I kept running (for reference), the injuries accumulated (so far). He’s in pain, but he’s running through it.”
Oh Se-geun, who was called the ‘Lion of Anyang’ in his early years as a pro because he overpowered his opponent from the bottom of the goal with his superior physique, has now become a ‘experienced lion’. Rather than fighting ruggedly, he overwhelms his opponents with his skill. His strong power, basketball sense, and accurate shooting ability are added, and he is evaluated as the best big man in active life. He drastically increased his three-point shot attempts from last season. Oh Se-geun pointed out, “The passion is the same as in previous years, but we have the know-how.” 온라인바카라
He also works well with the team’s main guard Byun Jun-hyung and foreign forward Omari Spellman. With Byun Jun-hyung, he produces points in a 2-on-2 play. Spellman, who is good at outside shots, shoots without hesitation because Oh Se-geun fights under the goal. Match-ups with foreign players are also up to Oh Se-geun, not Spellman. Oh Se-geun said, “I tend to talk well with Jun-hyung depending on the situation. Coexistence with Spellman is better than last season.”
Oh Se-geun, whose goal is to acquire 5 championship rings, has three so far (2011-12, 2016-17, 2020-21 seasons). Everyone contributed to the team’s victory. There is also a feature that Oh Se-geun is stronger on a big stage such as PO than in the regular league. Oh Se-geun said, “I don’t have a single memory of not being able to achieve what I set a goal for during my career as a player. This time, if he wears the fourth championship ring, he will be able to wear the fifth one (next time).”
This season, KGC has many victories after dramatic victories in the latter half of the game. It is thanks to the performance of players who are strong in the game. Oh Se-geun is determined to present a ‘exhilarating victory’ to fans in PO. He said, “It is a good finish to win around 4 wins and 2 losses in the championship match. There have been many thrilling matches this season. He has no choice but to work hard. The same is true for players. I will concentrate until the end.”