Lee Kyung-soo Comes Back and Spikes Samsung Court

LG Insurance Team, who came back to the Adult Volleyball League, defeated Samsung Insurance team.

On October 27, Kumho Life Insurance Cup 2003 Korean Biz Volleyball Big Match was held at the Donghae Indoor Gym. “Giant Killer” Lee Kyung-soo (24 kills) could not participate in the domestic match due to another team’s objection, Right attacker Kim Sung-chae (15 kills) and Ham Yong-chul (33 years old), the oldest setter in Korea, performed masterly to lead their team to a victory over Samsung Insurance with a final of 3-1. With this victory, LG Insurance goes on to the final match.

LG Insurance team has defeated Samsung Insurance team every time since December 27, 1998 at the first round of Super League held in Chamsil Youth Gym, almost four years and 10 months ago. Samsung Insurance team, composed of tremendous players, has not been defeated since losing to Hyundai Capital team in November 2002 at the Je-ju National Sports Game.

LG Insurance took the initiative from the first set by taking advantage of its powerful blocking defense. Focusing on blocking Samsung Insurance’s right attack line, composed of Kim Se-jin and Chang Byung-chul, LG Insurance put their tall players, all are over 195 cm. This blocking wall plan proved effective.

Even though Kim Se-jin played in the match, Samsung Insurance still lost the first set because of frequent mistakes with a score of 22-25. In the second set, Samsung put Chang Byung-chul to help change the momentum, and this helped lead a winning second set with 26-24. Samsung Insurance rolled the match around to the starting point.

Nevertheless, LG Insurance team was not the “former team” which used to crumble during crisis. LG Insurance broke the brunt of the Samsung Insurance’s attack, and Lee Kyung-soo, Kim Sung-chae and Son Suk-bum all made many kills to win the third set with 25-20. At the 4th set, Ham Yong-chul shows his exquisite toss to conclude the game with 25-17.

Lee Kyung-soo, recovering from his hip wound, announced that he wanted to be more active, saying, “I played satisfactorily. From now on I want to show the fans a fantastic performance.”

Shin Chi-yong, the coach of Samsung Insurance team, acknowledged the complete defeat. Gong Jung-bae, the coach of Korean Electric Power Corp. team, praised LG Insurance team’s game, saying, “I think volleyball’s dream team has already been made.”

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com