Tong Yang`s Wi Sung-Woo, “Let`s Go Sixth Man“

Wi Sung-Woo (30), a sixth man of the Tong Yang Orions, has never been happier, because he has been showing outstanding performance as a best sixth man this season after spending the past three seasons only as a bench member. He is now enjoying the popularity, receiving requests for interviews. Even on his day-off, he is filled with the enthusiasm to play. And as he has often appeared on the TV screen, he received a lot of phone calls from relatives and friends with whom he have never kept in touch.

The performance of Wi Sung-Woo was just fabulous in game with the SBS Stars on 4th at Anyang. Playing only 22 minutes and 17 seconds, he led the team`s complete victory by 14-point deficit, recording 16 points. In particular, in the final quarter chased by 5 points, he blasted a clean shot, that never touched the rim, from the downtown to widen the deficit. And his defense using a quick speed was also remarkable. Following the first match with the SBS, he tied up his counterpart Kim Hoon allowing only two points. Wi, who had played in the SBS last season, now became a most threatening weapon to his former team. The SBS cannot help but regret the fact that it traded him to the Tong Yang.

Wi joined the Tong Yang through the Hyundai amateur team and the Sangmu (Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps), and he had an opportunity to substitute for Kim Byung-Cheol who has been suffering from ankle injury. With tight defense, he has tied up the opponent`s main shooters, and even exploded with long-range shot showing excellent shooting ability. Therefore, it would be a matter of course to gain a confidence from coaching staffs. Tong Yang`s head coach Kim Jin praised him that he was a very faithful player who never missed a practice, even though he was a second oldest player.

There is another player who was lucky enough to play as a replacement. Forward Park Jae-Il has satisfactorily made up for Jeon Hee-Cheol who has missed the game due to the right leg injury. He has not only participated in collecting the rebounds, but also has accurately knocked down three-point shots. Head Coach Kim Jin said, "In the situation that a couple of starting members are missing, we could maintain good record because Wi Sung-Woo and Park Jae-Il have unexpectedly played well."

The SK Bigs had to be anxious about a team`s leading guard Hong Sa-Boong, because he had lost the normal condition before the season opened. However, Choi Myung-Do, who was traded from the KCC, has led a team`s outright first place with marvelous game management and offensive abilities exceeding Hong. So, coach Yoo Jae-Hak gave a lot of minutes to Choi as first unit, despite the fact that Hong had recovered his normal condition.

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com