Kim Han-byul explosion Samsung Life continues to revolt underdog

The shot of Kim Han-byul (35·1m78cm), ace of Samsung Life Insurance in Yongin, a women’s professional basketball team, exploded. Samsung Life continued the revolt of Underdog (the weak in sports confrontation).

Samsung Life Insurance beat Cheongju KB 76-71 in the first leg of the 2020-21 season championship match (5 matches, 3 wins) held at the Yongin Indoor Gymnasium on the 7th. Kim Han-byul flew with 30 points (6 rebounds), the most of both teams. He fired five three-point shots. In the playoffs, Samsung Life Insurance, which defeated Asan Woori Bank, the number one regular league player, with 2-1 loss, showed the potential to overwhelm the base line of KB’s second place in the Champ match by the league’s best player (MVP) Park Ji-soo (1m96cm). The probability of winning the first leg of the championship in previous championships is 67.8% (19 out of 28).

Samsung Life, which slightly advanced 29-27 in the first half, took the victory in the third quarter. Kim Han-byul played a decisive role. In particular, in the 3rd quarter ahead of 32-29, 1 minute and 44 seconds, Kim Han-byul broke through the defense of KB Kang A-jeong and entered three picturesque stores. The gap widened. Kim Han-byul made a bold one-on-one play against Park Ji-soo, who is 20cm closer than himself from the bottom of the goal. In the 3rd quarter, 4 minutes and 39 seconds of rapid attack, he succeeded in inducing a foul by KB Park Ji-soo and obtained an additional free throw. The score went up to 42-35.

Kim Han-byul also shone in defense. He intercepted the pass to Park Ji-soo with 19 seconds left in the third quarter. Samsung Life, who finished the third quarter with 55-46, kept the lead until the end. KB Park Ji-soo (23 points and 9 rebounds) stopped the double-double march, which was 32 consecutive games this season (30 league games, 2 playoffs) due to a lack of one rebound.

Born to a Korean mother, Kim Seong-ja (65), and an American father, Kim Han-byul made her professional debut in 2009 wearing a Samsung Life uniform. He won the rookie king in the 2009-10 season. In December 2011, he was specially naturalized as an excellent sports talent. However, I took a break from the 2014-15 season as I struggled with adapting to Korean culture. After making up my mind and returning in the 2015-16 season, I have established myself as the team’s ace.

Boasting a 1m90cm wing span (the width of both arms and usually the same height), Kim Hanbyul is an all-round player with strength, sense, and shooting triple. 35-year-old Kim Han-byul’s dream is his first victory in his life. He played 11 seasons only at Samsung Life Insurance, with only runners-up three times. Samsung Life’s last championship was the league championship in the summer of 2006.

Kim Han-byul said, “My dream is to win in my mother’s country. I will release the one who won this season.” If Samsung Life wins this championship, the fourth place in the regular league will become the champion for the first time in the history of women’s professional basketball. He also writes a progress record of’the champion with a regular league win rate of less than 50%’. Samsung Life ended the regular league with 14-16 losses.

The first leg of the championship match was held as a related match. It has been 97 days since the beginning of December last year when the game without spectators started due to Corona 19. 160 fans, 10% of the spectator seats (1625 seats), entered. The second leg of the champ match will be held at the same place on the 9th.

Reporter Pee Ju-young [email protected]