Cho Sung-Won, Seo Jang-Hoon, Gang Dong-Hee Chasing Both Team`s Victory and MVP

The professional basketball 2001-2002 season launches a 6-month long journey on 3rd.

The minds of the players must be all alike, while preparing for this season during the summer break. But there are the players who have waited for the opening of this season even more ardently than any other players.

Chasing his second consecutive MVP, `Kangaroo Shooter` of the LG Sakers Cho Sung-Won (30) challenges a rare record in this season, his fourth consecutive appearance in the championship series. After earning a champion ring for two straight seasons in the Hyundai, Cho moved to the LG Sakers last year, when his team took the second place. Chasing his third consecutive three-point shoot title, Cho is ready to go to this season with his main weapon, a long-range shoot following the fast break, taking advantage of the power post which has been more strengthened since rookie Song Young-Jin and imported player Evans joined team.

And having recorded his career 598 three-point shoots, Cho is expected to become a first domestic basketball player passing over 600 mark, in opening home-game with the Sambo on 3rd. Cho said, ``I can no longer wait for the season open. Since my team reinforced the center position, we will never lose the title in this season.``

Seo Jang-Hoo of the SK Knights, who had missed 21 games due to his fractured left finger last season, has elevated his condition to the best through intense training during the summer break. Aiming at whole-season start, Seo has held on to the weight training without a precedent, because he thought that the powerful muscles could prevent the injury as well as could enable him to show his best ability. Yoo Jae-Hak, Head Coach of the SK Bigs, praised Seo after the practice game with the SK Knights on 31st last month that ``Seo Jang-Hoon seemed to reach his best condition to the extent that he would be able to show the two-hand slam dunk for the first time since his college days in Yonsei University. A 1999-2000 MVP Seo Jang-Hoon have to struggle with the imported players unlike other domestic players. But he said confidently, ``The imported players seem to fall short of height and ability.`` Since Cho Sung-Won and Seo Jang-Hoon will be a free agent (FA) after this season, this season will be very important for both players to take the advantageous position in the future contracts.

Gang Dong-Hee of the Hyundai Mobis, who is rewriting a history in the assist category, with just one assist from his career 1,600 assists left, he is expected to set a new landmark in game with the Anyang SBS on 3rd. A four-time assist title winner Gang Dong-Hee is now ready to get rid of the bitter memory of his team`s failure to advance to the playoffs for the first time last season.

kjs0123@donga.com