KCC Dominates Game 1: Can They Secure the Championship Title with 71.4% Win Probability?

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Busan KCC made a statement in Game 1 of the championship finals, asserting its size and discipline as it climbed the first rung toward a title. The game began tightly contested, but KCC’s height advantage and team organization took over, earning a valuable road victory to open the series.

KCC defeated Goyang Sono 75-67 in Game 1 of the 2025-2026 pro basketball championship finals at Goyang Sono Arena on May 5. In a best-of-seven, winning Game 1 has historically set teams up well — 71.4% of Game 1 winners (20 of 28) have gone on to win the title. The result moves KCC closer to what would be their sixth overall championship bid.

This final drew extra attention as the first in league history to pit the regular season’s fifth- and sixth-place finishers against each other. KCC carried momentum into the matchup after a three-game sweep in the playoff quarterfinals and a 3-1 semifinal series, and they extended that run by taking the opener.

Sono held the early edge. Kang Ji-hoon and Lee Jung-hyun landed outside shots in the first quarter, and Nathan Knight contributed inside, putting Sono up 18-17. The tide turned in the second quarter, however.

The game’s turning point came when Shawn Long took control in the paint. After recording just one rebound in the first quarter, Long grabbed 10 in the second and swung the momentum. KCC led 34-30 at halftime, then opened the third with a 7-0 run. Heo Ung buried two early threes in the quarter, and KCC quickly pushed the lead to 49-32 — a 17-point advantage.

Sono mounted a fight in the fourth. Kevin Kembao knocked down two 3-pointers to spark a rally, trimming the deficit to 65-55 at one point. But with 1:47 remaining, Heo Ung hit a crucial long-range shot that put the game out of reach.

The box score told a clear story: Shawn Long dominated with 22 points and 19 rebounds, Heo Ung added 19 points, Choi Jun-yong contributed 13 points and 5 assists, and Heo Hoon finished with 8 points and 10 assists. For Sono, Lee Jung-hyun scored 18 points (including four 3s) with 6 rebounds, and Nathan Knight had 14 points and 5 rebounds, but Sono couldn’t match KCC’s overall firepower.

One game doesn’t decide a series, but taking Game 1 can set the tone. All eyes now turn to Game 2 on May 7 — will KCC turn that 71.4% historical trend into reality, or will Sono use the next game to reset the series?

Photo = Yonhap News