Sung-bae and Sung-hoon Brothers Will Make It Out

Staying together, they do not let the other lonely.

Brother players of Samsung Thunders, Park Sung-bae (28) and Park Sung-hoon (24). This year`s Christmas means something special to them. For the first time in their 20 years` careers, they will spend Christmas together on the court.

They went to the same schools from Changdo Elementary School up to Kyunghee University. Since they are 4 years apart from each other, they were in a senior-junior type of relationship. As a pure colleague, this is the first time together.

On their way to Daegoo where their team is scheduled to take on Orion on Christmas Day, they made a promise to each other. They promised to win the upcoming game and make it a lifetime Christmas gift. There are 10 pro basketball teams. But none of them has watched brothers play at the same time for the same team. Samsung players also promised to help them make their dream come true.

Actually, Sung-hoon was with SK Knights last season. But SK announced that it would have Sung-hoon retire. Then, he got a chance to play with his older brother at Samsung. He joined the team in July, and now two brothers are with each other.

"I felt like walking in the air at the news that my brother would come and play together. It was really hard for him." (Sung-bae)

"I was just thinking about starting all over again with my brother." (Sung-hoon)

Getting together, they may have been stimulated and motivated. This season, the brothers have demonstrated their best performance ever since debut. Sung-bae has emerged as the most powerful rival of Samsung`s star guard Choo Hee-chong. Sung-bae was tilted toward defending. Now, with his swiftness and powerful rushing, he`s leading the offense of Samsung.

Sung-hoon, who is 16cm taller than his older brother, has demonstrated himself in offense and defense, playing as a substitute. Samsung’s coach Kim Dong-kwang praised, "I guess the brothers have got their chances in Samsung. Samsung was like a land of opportunity for them. Both are really sincere and dedicated."

The joy of playing together is also a great bliss to their family members. Their father Park Kyungnam (56), who underwent a surgery due to the lung cancer, said, smiling, "Seeing them together, I couldn`t feel better. More than anything else, they come to home together when there is no game." Sung-bae`s wife Shin Dong-sun (25), who was a cheerleader of Gold Bank, said, "The two brothers were really close to each other. Once they got to play together, they seem to overcome whatever comes in their way, helping each other."

"Dad was critical. But he has come back remarkably. I think it`s because he does not have to worry about us anymore. This season, two of us will make it out big. Count on us."

There is a saying that a dream is for being achieved. The brothers are pitching their best to realize their dream of having an interview with "victory rings" on their hands.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com