DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Since 1992, no team from Korea has won it all in Asia's highest club competition.
But now with Changwon LG bound for the BCL Asia 2025, will that decades-long drought come to an end?
Qualifying path
That could be too lofty of an expectation, yes, but the Sakers would surely be aiming for that very goal, especially after having reached the pinnacle of success domestically for the first time ever in franchise history.
Changwon emerged as the 2024-25 Korean Basketball League (KBL) champions after outlasting the Seoul SK Knights in best-of-7 Finals that went the limit - concluded by a Game 7 that was one for the ages, 62-58.
They were actually one of three teams that have never won a league crown, but finally rewrote their story on that night of May 18 in indeed one of the best success tales for one of the KBL's founding members in 1997.
And by snaring the gold they had dreamt of for 28 long years, the Sakers have also earned the right to represent the country to this year's BCL Asia, with the hope to achieve success as well in the June 7-13 showpiece.
BCL Asia history
Sure, this will be their maiden foray in the tournament erstwhile known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, but they'd be looking to carry on quite a legacy authored by Korean teams in the past.
In the contest's 44-year history, only 11 teams have won the title, and one of them is Korea when Kia Motors - where the Hyundai Ulsan Mobis Phoebus traces their origins to - lorded over the 1992 tilt in Bangkok.
All in all, the country has stood at the podium seven times. They finished as runners-up twice and snagged third place four times, the most recent of which was in 2018 when Seoul SK did as much in Nonthaburi.
Changwon would definitely want to add to that tally.
Players to watch
Expect a solid mix of youth and experience from the Sakers in the upcoming meet, with 39-year-old Heo Il-young leading the way as he's fresh off winning Finals MVP honors in their ascension to KBL glory.
Formerly a part of the Korea men's team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014, the veteran wing fired 14 points behind a quartet of triples in Game 7 toward winning his third KBL championship in as many teams.
Then there are also players such as Darryl Monroe along with other local standouts like Yu Ki-sang and Yang Jun-seok, all of which provided significant contributions to make their golden KBL run possible.
FIBA