Number Six-Man Cho Sung-Hoon Says, `Surprise!`

Whether to laugh or to cry about team`s well being, even though he himself is not playing on the court.

That was precisely the situation for SK Bigs` shooter Moon Kyung-Un on the 13th in the 4th match between SK Bigs and Koreatender Prumi of the season

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Moon was in his best conditions on this day. As soon as the match began, he scored 9 points in a row. The court seemed too small for him as he broke through the center for jump shoots and returned outside for 3 pointers. He scored half of the team`s 24 total points in the 1st quarter.

But Oops! His right eye was cut from an injury that occurred 5 minutes 59 seconds before the end of 2nd quarter. Koreatender`s Kim Ki-Man, who was replaced with Hwang Jun-Won for failing to block Moon in the 1st quarter, hit him while putting his adhesive defense.

Moon soon left the court with a towel around his eye, and Cho Sung-Hoon, who hardly had a chance play, replaced him.

Cho appeared on the court temporarily only in 17 matches out of total 31 season matches scoring an average of 2 points, but, to much surprise, he scored 14 points including two 3 pointers on this day.

Excited McDowell continuously provided score opportunities for the teammates, and as soon as the 3rd quarter started, SK Bigs earned 14 points in a row, widening the score difference to 56 - 31. Moon returned to the bench concerned about the team`s status without him, but started laughing when he saw the score board. Perhaps happy about Moon`s attitude, the head coach Yoo Jae-Hak let him in again in the 4th quarter. Moon raised 6 more points in the last quarter, scoring a total of 20 points. Conclusively, SK Bigs gained 3 straight victories winning the match by 101 - 80, in which a starting member and a number six-man showed no virtual difference in talents.

Tied-No.1`s, Dong Yang Orions and SK Knights, also recorded their 6th and 4th straight wins on this day, respectively. Dong Yang fought KCC Egis winning by 87 - 79, and SK Knights beat Sambo Xers by 82 - 71.

In Ulsan, Mobis Automons escaped a 4th straight defeat by beating Samsung Thunders with the score 99 - 87. Samsung is under this season`s worst record of five straight losses.

Chang Jeon jeon@donga.com