[W챔프] The condition is temporary, but the class is forever.

[점프볼=용인/민준구 기자] When I started writing as a reporter, the phrase I didn’t trust the most was, “The condition is temporary, but the class is forever.” It was considered a temporary phenomenon that restored the splendor of the past as a sports quote usually used by veterans.

However, it was difficult to close my open mouth easily as I watched the moment that this quote led to reality with my own eyes. It was shocking to see a player who suffered minor injuries throughout the regular league and failed to show their past performances, fluttering as if what had been past was a lie. Hanbyul Kim of Samsung Life Insurance was the protagonist, and his class was forever.

Yongin Samsung Life won 76-71 in the first leg of the championship match against KB Kookmin Bank’s Liiv M 2020-2021 Women’s Professional Basketball Cheongju KB Stars. With a 67.8% chance of winning, they took a successful step towards the top of the team for the first time in a single season.

Kim Han-byul was the key and first contributor to victory. Dominated the court with 30 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, including 5 3-point shots in 38 minutes and 51 seconds. 30 points is also the most personal score in the championship match.

Kim Han-byul’s attack route varied. I pulled Jisoo Park to the outskirts. Also, if he did not follow, he attempted a three-point shot without delay. The success rate was great. He tried 5 in the first half, and made 4 successes. There was no hesitation in the shooting attempt, and that confidence soon led to success.

He wasn’t just insisting on 3-point shots. The bold rim attack confuses KB Stars, who has the best rim protector in WKBL named Park Ji-soo. In particular, in the second half of the match, he succeeded in six two-point field fights. The End One, which was obtained against Park Ji-soo, was the highlight of the day.

When spring basketball comes, it may be a not-so-special activity because Kim Han-byul always showed off his heyday skills. Kim Han-byul showed an overwhelming performance that no one can compare when the playoff/championship match is held every time.

The playoff with Woori Bank in the 2018-2019 season is also a representative series that shows why Kim Han-byul is the best. As Kim Han-byul is like that, in fact, it can be considered natural that he played in the first leg of the championship match against KB Stars.

However, Kim Han-byul’s 2020-2021 season was never really happy. The kneecap and hip joint muscle injuries, knee and ankle injuries overlapped, and he played 24 games, recording 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists for an average of 27 minutes and 49 seconds.

His appearance in 24 games was the lowest since his 22 appearances in the 2015-2016 season, and his playing time was also the lowest since the 2017-2018 season.

Even if the record was simply excluded, Kim Han-byul’s condition this season did not look good. The remarkably reduced speed did not easily match with Samsung Life Insurance, which pursued a young and fast basketball. It was also attributable to the inability to maintain the best physical condition due to injuries, as well as to being old enough to be classified as a veteran now.

Because of Kim Han-byul, expectations for basketball this spring were not high. Samsung Life Insurance’s semifinal playoff with Woori Bank as well as the championship match against KB Stars were all evaluated as underdogs. There are many reasons, but the key among them was Kim Han-byul’s incomplete condition.

In the semifinal playoffs against Woori Bank, everyone seemed to be correct. He played a role in the first and second games, but was sluggish in the third game. It was difficult to find’Byeolbron’, who had a hard carry in the playoffs with Woori Bank in the 2018-2019 season.

However, Kim Han-byul rose again in the championship match against KB Stars. I witnessed the words “condition is temporary but class is forever”, which was so difficult to accept, becoming a reality on the court.

Samsung Life got the best opportunity. After being merged into a single season, only Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and KB Stars can take the crown of WKBL.

Hanbyul Kim personally proved that Samsung Life Insurance can do it. This is the achievement achieved by winning the decision against’empress’ Park Ji-soo, who challenged not only the first 7 crowns in history, double doubles in the previous game, but also the most 20-20 playoffs/champions match ever.

“The condition is temporary, but the class is forever.” Is there a player who matches this quote as well as Kim Han-byul in Korean professional sports? The first game was just over, but it was enough to earn the best praise.

# Photo provided by WKBL

[저작권자ⓒ 점프볼. 무단전재-재배포 금지]