Meeting of Archrivals, Hyundai and Samsung

When rivals meet, heat is oozed out.

Samsung and Hyundai are archrivals to each other in the Women`s Korea Basketball League. When they meet, they tend to fight to the end. First, each team represents each of two biggest chaebol in South Korea. In addition, the different in style makes it more interesting. Samsung hinges everything on attack, while Hyundai concentrates mostly on defense.

The two met again yesterday in the Suwon Stadium in the first game of the 2002 Winter League of the WKBL.

They proved yet again why they are called "mutual archrivals." Until the third quarter, Samsung led the game with a 10-point lead. Hyundai would not let it go, however. It waged an all-out war and caught up very close. Unfortunately, Hyundai failed to overturn the game, and the 89-83 victory went to Samsung.

Hyundai barely made it into the playoff. It ranked itself at 4th in the regular season. Thus, Hyundai did not aim to winning the game against Samsung to begin with. Losing three games to Samsung out of 4 in the season, Hyundai staff member humbled himself and said, "We know where we are. We just don`t think it`s realistic to win the game."

Samsung, however, could not let the guards off. Hyundai`s seasoned players could possibly employ a tough playing tactic, which Samsung girls would not like. Then, an unexpected result could take place.

Making best of its merit of the speedy play, Samsung finished up the first two quarters, leading the game 49-43. Then, Samsung players looked relaxed. A crisis, however, started tensing Samsung players beginning three minutes to the end of the third quarter. Its center Kim Kye-ryong got fouled out.

Samsung sealed off the third with 73-56, but it suffered a lot from the absence of Kim. With a center missing, Samsung players pressed in under the basket to make up for the loss of their center. Hyundai, however, would not let go of this chance. Its players made three successful three-pointers, and caught up with Samsung by 5 points, or 84-79, just about one minute away from the end.

Only 50 seconds were left. But luck turned its head on Hyundai. Samsung`s Byun Yon-hah made a successful three-pointer, widening the gap to 8 points and securing the victory for Samsung. The excellent performance of each star Samsung player led their team to win. In the game, each of its starting 5 members scored an average of twenty points.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com