DONGGUAN (China) - Busan BNK Sum hung on to beat Al Ula Club, 91-84, to open their FIBA Women's Basketball League Asia (WBL Asia) 2025 on a winning note, Thursday at the Dongguan Sports Center.
The WKBL champs needed luck down the stretch when their 26-point lead became just seven as the premature exit of Lee Sohee due to foul trouble during the deciding chapter nearly cost them the match.
"Being the first game, I think everybody was a little bit nervous," offered head coach Park Jungeun. "Because of that, it wasn't our best game. But it was a very good experience for the girls, and for the younger players."
Lee left as their top scorer with 23 points, including 14 in the first half as she helped her side to a 31-point output - a prelude to a big third canto in which they unloaded 34 to post an 81-55 lead entering the fourth.
But what was thought to be an easy victory for the Koreans turned out otherwise as the representatives from Saudi Arabia stormed back behind the WNBA tandem of Chennedy Carter and Queen Egbo.
So dominant were the two that they actually outscored the entire BNK Sum by themselves in the game's last 10 minutes, with Carter responsible for cutting the gap to seven with less than two minutes left to play.
However, the seasoned pros could only do so much. Carter turned the ball over during her attempt to attack the defense, before Egbo missed a jumper from the top of the key with about 27 seconds remaining.
And soon, BNK Sum could only heave a sigh of relief as they avoided a meltdown in their first game, ultimately enabling themselves to gain a share of the Group B lead with the Fujitsu Red Wave of Japan.
The two will dispute the top spot on Friday, September 26, at 16:30 local time.
Sonia Kim contributed 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for BNK Sum as she also overcame foul trouble. She helped stabilize things late, hitting a jumper to make it a 91-78 lead with 3:38 left to keep their foes at bay.
Byon Sojung had 12 points, while Park Hyejin and Kim Jeongeun added 11 points apiece in the win that saw the team knock down a total of 18 threes - a weapon that overwhelmed the opposition early.
Such a balanced offense, for sure, was something that Al Ula could only wish to emulate.
Carter led the Saudi Basketball League outfit with 45 points alongside 11 rebounds and 6 assists, while Egbo finished with 34 points and 19 rebounds as the duo combined for 78 of the team's points.
But such efforts went for naught, unfortunately, and Al Ula could only bid goodbye to their hopes of advancing to the Semi-Finals. Still, they could end their campaign with a win in the Classification 5-6 on Saturday.
FIBA