(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Ahn Hong-seok = Professional basketball team Seoul Samsung defeated Daegu Korea Gas Corporation and tied the league record for the most opening wins in a row with 8.
Samsung defeated Korea Gas Corporation 76-68 in the 2026-2027 KCC professional basketball regular season away game held at Daegu Gymnasium on the 25th.
Starting with the first game of the season against Suwon KT, Samsung, which has not lost once in eight games, tied the record for the most consecutive wins in a professional basketball opening season set by Wonju Dongbu (currently DB) in the 2011-2012 season and Goyang Orions in the 2014-2015 season.
If Samsung wins the away game against Goyang Sono on the 30th, it will set a new record in this category and tie the club's record for the most consecutive wins.
Samsung recorded 9 consecutive wins in the 2008-2009 season.
Samsung ran away with a 14-point lead in the middle of the third quarter when they were ahead 43-41, thanks to Chris McCullough's steal followed by a dunk and consecutive 3 points by Ho-bin Han and Kyu-tae Lee.
Korea Gas Corporation quickly caught up with goals from Sam Joseph Belangel, Jeong Seong-woo, and Kebe Aluma in the fourth quarter. In about 5 minutes, it was 60-64.
Then, Samsung poured cold water on Korea Gas Corporation's pursuit atmosphere with three points from Lee Gyu-tae and Lee Geun-hwi.
Samsung's victory was sealed as Jeong Seong-woo's 3-pointer with 26 seconds left missed.
Kerem Kanter led the way in Samsung's victory with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Ho-bin Han and Kyu-tae Lee added 11 points each.
At Korea Gas Corporation, Aluma scored 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Korea Gas Corporation tied for 6th place (3 wins, 5 losses) with Changwon LG.
In the away game held at Anyang CheongKwanJang Arena, Wonju DB shook off Anyang CheongKwanJang's strong pursuit at the last minute and won 95-93.
DB, with 3 consecutive wins, was in 4th place (5 wins, 3 losses), and Jeong Kwan-Jang was in 3rd place (6 wins, 3 losses).
Cheong Kwan Jang's home winning streak that had been going on since last season ended at 12 games.
DB played the game amidst bad news as first option foreigners Henry Ellenson and Kang Sang-jae missed two consecutive games due to headaches and injuries, respectively, and Cheong Gwan-jang, also a foreigner, John Mooney was unable to play due to a knee injury.
DB scored 65 points in the first half alone, taking the lead by 13 points, led by a triangle of Rays Hammonds, Jeong Hyo-geun, and special guard Ethan Albano, who scored points regardless of the perimeter.
Cheong Kwan-Jang began a full-fledged chase in the third quarter. In the first 3 minutes, DB's score was tied at 5, and Lee Dae-heon and Lens Abando scored 10 points, including 3-pointers.
DB struggled with high-pressure defense in the middle of the quarter and committed turnovers one after another. Cheong Kwan-Jang, who was gradually accumulating points, entered the fourth quarter narrowing the lead to 79-81, 2 points, with Abando's 3-point buzzer beater.
With 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Cheong Kwan Jang made the lead by one point thanks to Daven Reed's goal, but that was all.
Albano succeeded in 3 out of 4 free throws in the last minute, tilting the pendulum towards DB.
Hammonds with 31 points and Albano with 28 points led DB to victory.
DB veteran Jeong-Hyun Lee scored two 3-pointers on this day and surpassed 1,200 successful 3-pointers in his career.
Abando's 22 points and 13 rebounds were overshadowed by the loss.
At Jamsil Student Gymnasium in Seoul, Seoul SK defeated Suwon KT 90-79 and won three games in a row.
The home winning streak against KT extended to 7 games.
SK, ranked 2nd, recorded 3 wins and 1 loss, and KT, which suffered 5 consecutive losses, fell from 7th place tied with Changwon LG to 8th place (3 wins, 6 losses).
SK Jamil Warni showed consistent offensive ability, scoring 25 points, the most for both teams. Among domestic players, Ahn Young-jun's performance shone with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
