“I wanted to wish my mom well for her leg surgery and give her a win, and the last three-pointer was thanks to her.”
Korea University won the 2023 KUSF College Basketball U League Final against Yonsei University 60-57 in a nail-biter on Thursday at Hwajung Gymnasium on the Anam campus of Korea University. The victory marked the second consecutive overall championship after winning the title in 2022.
While ace and captain Park Mubin (17 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals) was outstanding, it was freshman Moon Yoo-hyun (11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) who was the difference maker, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to end a 40-minute battle in KU’s favor.
Moon Yoo-hyun’s performance was far too dominant for a freshman. A year ago, he was considered one of the best guards of his generation by Lee Joo-young and Lee Chae-hyung, but his performance in the college league was enough to put him ahead of them. In addition, he showed his characteristic intensity on the big stage, giving KU many victories. Yang Dong-geun, the “KBL Goat,” thrilled viewers with his powerful plays.
After the win, Moon Yoo-hyun thanked his mother, saying, “My mom is sick right now. Yesterday (Nov. 13), she injured her leg and said she had to have surgery. I wanted to give her the win today as a gift, hoping (the surgery) would go well. Luckily, it was my mom who made the 3-pointer at the end. I’m so grateful,” he said in a nice message.
The final three-pointer that brought down Yonsei and crowned KU the back-to-back champions was a work of art. After Park Mubin broke down the KU defense, Moon Yoo-hyun finished the pass without missing a beat. It’s one of the best shots in the history of the College League Finals.
“When the ball left my hand, I had a doubt, ‘Did it go in?’ And as soon as it passed the rim, it was so exhilarating,” said Moon. “To be honest, I thought (Park) was going to try to shoot for my brother for the last dance, but he gave me a pass. I was so grateful and wanted to repay his faith.”
Uncharacteristic of a freshman, Moon’s poise and reliable finishing in clutch situations are her strengths, but it wasn’t always that way. “I used to get nervous a lot,” she says, “but then I realized that I didn’t get nervous after failing and succeeding. I feel like I’m stronger than before,” she said.
The ceremony was also spectacular. After her three-pointer went through the rim, Moon took off her jersey and ran around the court. He’s been known to get into nervous battles with opponents before. His game is as hard as a rock, but he can show emotion. Another ‘star’ was born.아톰카지노
“I actually looked for my jersey again because I thought I was going to get a technical foul,” says Moon Yoo-hyun (laughs). But it wasn’t there. Fortunately, the referees didn’t give me a technical foul, and I wanted to feel that feeling to the fullest,” she recalls.
Moon Yoo-hyun is the ace who will lead Korea University for the next three years. His older brother, Moon Jeong-hyun, has four years left before the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2023 KBL rookie draft. “Let’s be the same team in the pros and chew up the KBL,” Moon said to Moon Jung-hyun.