The WKBL Summer Cup continued on October 8, 2026, with a lopsided affair at 18:00 local time, as Sinhan Bank S-Birds dismantled Victoria Select Team (W) 102-71. The S-Birds never trailed, using a blistering first quarter and relentless defensive pressure to secure their second win of the preseason tournament. Victoria Select Team, a touring side composed of emerging talents, struggled to contain Sinhan Bank’s transition attack and fell to 0-2 in Summer Cup play.

Match Overview

Sinhan Bank S-Birds opened the game with a statement, racing to a 28-15 lead after the first quarter. Their full-court press forced Victoria into eight early turnovers, which the S-Birds converted into 14 fast-break points. Victoria settled down in the second quarter, finding some rhythm behind guard Alexandra Pierce, but Sinhan Bank’s balanced scoring kept the margin comfortable. A buzzer-beating three-pointer from S-Birds guard Park Ji-hyun sent the teams into halftime at 53-33.

The third quarter saw Victoria make a brief push, cutting the deficit to 18 midway through the period. However, Sinhan Bank responded with a 10-2 run, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Kim Min-ji off the bench. The S-Birds entered the final frame with a 79-53 advantage and never looked back. In the fourth, coach Lee Sang-ho emptied his bench, and the reserves maintained the intensity, pushing the lead to as many as 34 points before Victoria closed the gap in garbage time.

• Q1: Sinhan Bank 28, Victoria 15
• Q2: Sinhan Bank 25, Victoria 18
• Q3: Sinhan Bank 26, Victoria 20
• Q4: Sinhan Bank 23, Victoria 18

Key Moments

The game’s decisive stretch came early. With the score 4-2 in favor of Sinhan Bank, the S-Birds ripped off a 12-0 run over a two-minute span, forcing Victoria to call two timeouts. Park Ji-hyun and Lee So-hee combined for 10 of those points, with Lee dominating the offensive glass. Victoria’s best moment came in the third quarter when Pierce and Emma Thompson sparked an 8-0 run that made it 61-43. But Sinhan Bank’s veteran composure showed immediately, as they answered with a 10-2 burst to restore order.

Another highlight came in the final minute of the first half, when Park Ji-hyun dribbled down the clock and drilled a step-back three from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded, sending the Sinhan Bank bench into a frenzy and pushing the lead to 20 points.

Tactical Story

Sinhan Bank’s defensive scheme was the story of the night. They employed a aggressive half-court trap that Victoria’s young guards struggled to break, leading to 19 turnovers. The S-Birds also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Victoria 45-30, including 14 offensive boards that resulted in 18 second-chance points. On the offensive end, Sinhan Bank moved the ball beautifully, finishing with 24 assists on 38 made field goals. Their three-point shooting was efficient (12-of-28, 42.9%), while Victoria managed just 6-of-22 (27.3%) from beyond the arc.

Victoria Select Team tried to counter with a 2-3 zone in the second quarter, which briefly slowed the pace. But Sinhan Bank’s high-low action and crisp ball reversal created open corner threes. Victoria also struggled to contain dribble penetration, allowing 22 fast-break points. Their coach, Maria Gonzalez, rotated frequently, but the talent gap was evident.

Standout Players

Sinhan Bank S-Birds:

• Park Ji-hyun: 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals — the engine of the offense, she controlled tempo and knocked down timely shots.
• Lee So-hee: 18 points, 12 rebounds (5 offensive), 2 blocks — a double-double performance that set the tone inside.
• Kim Min-ji: 15 points off the bench, including 4-of-7 from three-point range — her shooting outburst in the third quarter ended any hopes of a Victoria comeback.
• Choi Yun-ah: 10 points, 7 assists, 3 steals — steady two-way play.

Victoria Select Team:

• Alexandra Pierce: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists — the team’s most consistent scorer, she kept Victoria within striking distance in the first half.
• Emma Thompson: 14 points, 8 rebounds — battled hard on the interior despite foul trouble.
• Rachel Kim: 12 points, 5 assists — provided a spark in the third quarter but couldn’t sustain it.

Summer Cup Standings and Season Impact

With the win, Sinhan Bank S-Birds improve to 2-0 in the WKBL Summer Cup group stage, solidifying their position atop the standings. The 102-point output is the highest team total in the tournament so far, a clear signal that their offense is clicking ahead of the regular WKBL season