ethernetacademy.netThe Seoul Samsungs are going through a long dark period. They last missed the playoffs in the 2016-2017 season. More recently, they have tasted the pain of finishing last for two consecutive seasons. In the 2023-2024 season, they’re sweating it out to get out of the bottom half.
Samsung hasn’t made many changes to its domestic roster. Instead, they added two new faces (Kofi Coburn and Ishmael Lane) and utilized the Asian quota system to acquire 183cm guard Avan Nava (Philippines). It’s a move that’s designed to change the team’s strength.
Samsung is currently training in Nagoya, Japan, and is in the process of working out the kinks with the new additions through scrimmages. The team played the Mikawa Seahorses on the 12th and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins on the 14th.
The team lost 73-96 to Mikawa, where Lee Dae-sung is a member, but won 87-83 in a close game against Nagoya. Regardless of the outcome of the game, it was more meaningful in terms of content, as the team played aggressive defense and had a good offensive connection.
Aban Nava stood out, scoring a team-high 24 points against Nagoya, including five three-pointers. His physicality allowed him to handle the tough defense of his opponents, and his long range was instrumental in creating cracks in their defense. Despite being new to the team, he adapted quickly and improved his chemistry with Lee and Coburn.
Head coach Eun Hee-seok also expressed his satisfaction with Nava’s presence. “We didn’t have enough scoring resources, so we weren’t able to compete with our opponents for goals. Aban (Nava) is a player with scoring ability, so that in itself is a big help to our team,” he said.바카라사이트
“We still need to work on our defense, but I think we’ll get better because he’s very motivated and he’s adapting well. He fills a need for us, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he brings to the table,” he added, expressing his excitement for Nava’s performance in the new season.