Samsung Fire Takes the Court

The Samsung Fire has won its eighth consecutive championship in the winter league.

Samsung Fire escaped from the chase of Hyundai Capital with a 3-1 win in fourth match of the KT&G V tour 2004 Volleyball men’s championship series held at Jamsil Students’ Gymnasium on March 31.

It was Samsung’s eighth championship since 1997, leaving the team just one title short of the record for most consecutive championships (9 wins) set by LG Caltex.

The fighting spirit of Hyundai Capital to have final fifth match was equal to the will of the Samsung Fire. Preparing for the fourth match by taking out starting players when Samsung pushed with its best members in the third match of the previous day, Coach Kim Ho-cheol of Hyundai Capital took on Samsung with his best capacity.

However, a wild storm was waiting for Hyundai. Samsung beat Hyundai to the punch, thanks to strong spikes from left and right attackers, Shin Jin-sik (22 points) and Kim Se-jin (22 points).

In the first set, Samsung allowed a seesaw game as the tosses of setter Choi Tae-woong didn’t work against Hyundai’s blocking. Samsung won with 25-21, however, thanks to Shin Jin-sik’s continuous points and Shin Seon-ho’s quick attacks at the end of the set.

But Hyundai came back in second set. Down 12-16 until the middle of set, Hyundai changed the flow of the game on Bang Shin-bong’s blocking and Baek Seung-heon’s left attacks, and won the set 25-21 as Bang Shin-bong blocked Jang Byoung-cheol’s attacks.

Samsung recovered in third set, winning easily 25-13 and finished the game on Shin Seon-ho’s service ace in the fourth set. Kim Se-jin was selected as game MVP for the fourth time.

Shin Chi-yong, Coach of Samsung remarked, “I want to thank the players who sacrificed themselves and played with injuries.” Kim Ho-cheol, Coach of Hyundai, who finished in second place in his debut said, “I will make efforts to play as a competitor, not a chaser, next season.”

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com