By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Veteran center Seo Jang-hoon put in an impressive performance to lead his new team to a 70-68 win over the league-leading Ulsan Mobis in his ET Land BlackSlamer debut Wednesday.
In a road game, Seo, who was traded to the Incheon-based team in a 2-3 swap with the KCC Egis last Friday, scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds in 35 minutes, also adding two assists.
The 34-year-old hit nine points in the opening quarter to help the BlackSlamer take command.
The BlackSlamer, headed by Choi Hee-am, who coached Seo at Yonsei University, are sitting sixth in the table with an 11-12 record.
But the Mobis had their four-game winning streak snapped, allowing the Dongbu Promy to share top spot in the standings. Their nine-game winning stretch at home also ended.
The 2.07-meters-tall Seo also showed veteran poise in the crunch time.
With the BlackSlamer up 70-67 with one second to go, Seo fouled Bryant Dunston, preventing the Mobis from tying the game.
``The bench didn't give any direction about the last foul. I just thought that fouling was the best option to win the game,'' Seo said after the game.
``I felt lots of pressure and my conditioning wasn't good. Moreover, I am not completely used to my new team's strategies.''
The Mobis, which made the first free throw awarded from Seo's foul in the final second, tried to even up proceedings with a tip-in after missing with their second attempt, but it fell short.
Seo was dealt to the BlackSlamer after he complained of limited playing time because of this year's No. 1 draft pick Ha Seung-jin, who stands at 2.21-meters-tall.
The Egis, which had expected a synergy effect from the pair dubbed the "twin-towers", couldn't find a way to get both in the team at the same time, and opted for the youngster as first pick.
Though Seo was expected to make his debut in a red BlackSlamer jersey against the Promy Sunday, he arrived on court earlier, proving he still has a competitive edge.
In the other match in Busan, the Samsung Thunders achieved their sixth consecutive victory when they beat the last-placed KTF MagicWings 83-76 on the road.
The Thunders' two imports Terrence Leather and Aaron Heinz combined for 58 points to help the team achieve the feat.
The Seoul-based Thunders are ranked fourth with a 12-11 record.