Chung Eun-Soon, Light of Samsung

At the game betwee n the Samsung Life Insurance Bichumee and the Kookmin Bank Savers held yesterday at the Suwon Gymnasium as a part of the Shinsegye E-Mart Cup 2001 Women’s Professional Basketball League, the players and supporters for both teams heated up the gym as if they were fighting for a championship, since the game was a decisive match for whether `to enter the playoffs or be excluded`.

Not only did the players not hesitate to dive into the court, but also Samsung manager Yoo Soo-Jong, a guy famous for his calm character, yelled at his players with his jacket taken off. Even though the Kookmin Bank team was the visiting team for the day, mobilized cheerleaders enthusiastically cheered for them.

The heroin of the win for Samsung was the veteran Chung Eun-Soon (30). Chung Eun-Soon, who led the team to the championship four times out of six women’s pro basketball seasons, showed a `triple-double-class performance` recording 32 points, 10 boards, and 4 assists while playing for full 40 minutes.

Chung, who will leave the court temporarily to give birth after this season, played hard, her teeth clenched tight, showing her firm determination that there will be no playoff exclusion.

Chung Eun-Soon consistently tormented the opponent by passing the ball when the defense moved in on her, and scoring with superb shots when the defenders moved away from her.

At the fourth quarter when Samsung led by just one point, after completing a shot-range shot and leaving the opponent center, Hong Jung-Ae, behind her, Chung finished the quarter with 13 points, more than half of the team`s total score average, and even making a driving lay-up shot.

Along with veteran player Chung Eun-Soon, the `young` center Kim Kye-Ryung did her part as well for Samsung to solidify their win widening the gap by 12 points, 74-62, during the middle of the fourth quarter.

Even though Kookmin Bank sought a turn over with three pointers made by their `twin long-range-canon`, Yang Hee-Yeon and Kim Kyung-Hee, there was not enough time for them.

After everything, Samsung won the game 83-75, snatching the only remaining playoff spot. Samsung confirmed their number four spot in the league, widening the margin between them and the Kookmin Bank by 2.5 games. Samsung will go to the 2-out-of-3-game playoff round against the leading team in the league, Shinsegye Cool Cats for a spot in the championship series.

At the game between the Hyundai Hyperion and the Hanvit Bank Hansae held at the Cheonju Gymnasium, Hyundai won 69-63, confirming their second place for the regular season. Hanvit Bank took the third place.

Hyundai`s win was more meaningful than just a regular victory, since they will meet Hanvit Bank at the playoffs.

Jeon Chang jeon@donga.com