I got hit by the Indonesian sub king… Korean Air loses to Jakarta for the first time
“I gritted my teeth as much as I was undervalued.”
Professional basketball Anyang KGC Ginseng Corporation had many skeptical eyes ahead of the 2022-2023 season. This is because coach Kim Seung-gi, who led the team for more than 7 years, and Jeon Seong-hyun, the best shooter in the league, have all left after he took a knee in the championship match against Seoul SK last season. Coach Kim Sang-sik, who has experience as a national team commander, took the new helm, but many expected that it would be difficult because it was Ginseng Corporation that underwent major changes along with power loss. The same was true of the ‘veteran’ Oh Se-geun. Born in 1987, at the age of 36, there was a perception that ‘the era of Oh Se-geun has passed’. But it was a year that defied all expectations. Ginseng Corporation and Oh Se-geun both had their best seasons. Ginseng Corporation achieved the feat of ‘Triple Crown’ by winning the ‘Wire-to-Wire’ league, which never comes down from first place, and winning the East Asia Super League (EASL) trophy and championship match. Oh Se-geun played a big role in the championship match against SK again this season and was selected as the MVP. Oh Se-geun led the championship with 19.1 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 assists, playing an average of 35 minutes and 56 seconds in seven championship games. In the end, the last main character was him.
Ginseng Corporation Oh Se-geun, who won the MVP of the professional basketball championship, poses in a park near Anyang Gymnasium after an interview with the Segye Ilbo on the 15th. Reporter Lee Jae-moon
In an interview with the Segye Ilbo held at a cafe near the Anyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province on the 15th, Oh Se-geun said, “No one even said that we were a strong team apart from the championship candidates. The evaluation of me was the same,” he said. “I gnashed my teeth and worked hard to become a champion. He showed it once again by winning. It was a year that proved that I was not dead yet,” he recalled.
Oh Se-geun compared his career to a ‘roller coaster’. He took several peaks and crashed several times to the ground. Injuries, big and small, plagued him throughout his playing career. Each time, several evaluations came and went. But for him, this was also ‘nourishment’. Oh Se-geun said, “When he hit the bottom, he was very disappointed in himself. I always wanted to change the bad gaze from the outside,” he said. Because he was like this, the roar of the ‘Lion King’ that came out the moment he won the 7th round of the championship match was all the more intense. It was the joy and pride of being able to prove oneself again along with the desperate victory amidst negative evaluations. This is why it is considered one of the most meaningful victories for him, who has won four championships.
Oh Se-geun, who has been reigning at the top of the league for over 10 years. His ‘persistence’ for the best came from his ‘first mind’ when he first started playing basketball. 3rd year middle school, Oh Se-geun, who was 190 cm tall and boasted an overwhelming height compared to his peers, was playing basketball on a street in Incheon and was offered a ‘scout’ by the basketball team of Annam Middle School. When he was contemplating his career path, he promised his parents two things by declaring that he would play basketball. “I will never give up. And I will be the best.” Middle school student Oh Se-geun did not let go of the basketball, and he became the best. He still thinks of this promise whenever he is having a hard time. Oh Se-geun said, “There were times when I was so tired that I cried a lot alone because my skills didn’t improve much compared to what I tried in my first and second year of high school.” He recalled that he continued his dream by exercising until dawn with the senior he lived with.”
Professional volleyball men’s Incheon Korean Air Jumbos were hit by the Indonesian team in the last group match of the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championships.
On the 16th (local time), Korean Air defeated Indonesian league runner-up team Jakarta Bayangkara Freshie 1-3 (28-30 17-25) in Group A 3 of the group stage held at the ISA Sports City Stadium in Manama, Bahrain. 25-22 21-25).
Korean Air, which won the first and second games, experienced its first defeat in the tournament in the last game of the group stage. As a result, Korean Air remained at 2 wins, 1 loss and 6 points, giving Jakarta (7 points) first place in the group.
Korean Air, who advanced to the quarterfinals after finishing second in their group, will play their first match in Group E of the quarterfinals against Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds on the 18th. Korean Air, which had one loss and reached the group stage of the quarterfinals due to the defeat that day, was under the pressure of having to win against Santory.
At the beginning of the first set, Korean Air was taken aback by Jakarta’s organizational skills. Jakarta showed persistent play by linking Korean Air’s attacks with Digg one after another. Led by coach Jiang Jie, who served as the head coach of the Chinese national team, Jakarta’s serve, fast attack, and blocking were excellent.
The seesaw game continued until the end of the set. Head coach Tommy Tillikainen pitched in the starting middle blocker Cho Jae-young and threw the game. In the 28-28 deuce, Jung Ji-seok’s serve was caught in the net. Jakarta’s Iranian outside hitter Manabinejad’s open attack succeeded and Jakarta took the first set 30-28.
[Manama (Bahrain) = Newsis] Jakarta ace Farhan. 2023.05.16. (Photo = Provided by the Asian Volleyball Federation) *Resale and DB prohibited
Korean Air, which gave up a set for the first time since participating in this tournament, was dragged away by allowing Jakarta ace Farhan Halim to score again in the second set. Parhan, who won the Indonesian league serve king for the last two seasons in a row, threatened Korean Air with a strong serve and an open attack with high RBI.
Daudi Okello, who played for Hyundai Capital and KEPCO in the Korean V-League and moved to the Indonesia League, also scored. Korean Air, which was behind by 7 points, made mistakes in receiving and serving and gave up the second set with a score of 17-25.
In the third set, Korean Air seemed to be leading, but Lim Dong-hyeok’s attacks failed one after another, allowing a tie. As Korean Air faced the crisis of defeat, the cheers of Koreans in Bahrain grew louder. Bahraini spectators, who could only expect Bahraini team Al-Ahli to advance to the quarterfinals if Korean Air wins, heard the news that Korean Air was losing, and flocked to the stadium to cheer them on.
Encouraged by the support, Jung Ji-seok scored a serve, followed by Lee Joon’s open attack. Jakarta’s Judah Mardiancia Putra’s offense went outside and Korean Air reached the set point. Lee Joon’s open attack was successful and Korean Air won the third set 25-22.
The 4th set also unfolded amid unilateral support from Bahraini and Koreans. Bahraini spectators interfered with musical instruments and sound devices every time Jakarta served. Although the momentum of the Indonesian crowd was waning, Korean Air was dragged along in the game.
[Manama (Bahrain) = Newsis] Jakarta ace Farhan. 2023.05.16. (Photo = Provided by the Asian Volleyball Federation) *Resale and DB prohibited
In the game that lasted three days in a row, Lim Dong-hyeok and other starters made frequent mistakes amid poor stamina. On the other hand, the opposing ace, Farhan, widened the score gap with his serve and back attack. With a 17-14 lead, Farhan played the role of a solver by blocking Son Hyeon-jong’s attack. Korean Air, overwhelmed by Farhan’s performance, eventually lost 21-25.
Prior to this match, Suntory Sunbirds (Japan), led by Dmitri Mushalsky (Russia), defeated Kaipil Sports Club (Yemen) 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals as No. 1 in Group C. Suntory will meet Korean Air in Group E of the quarterfinals.
Shahdab Yazd (Iran), to which Saeed Marouf, one of Asia’s best setters belongs, defeated Taichung Bank (Taiwan) 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals, Group F, as No. 1 in Group B. Taichung Bank, which was defeated, was eliminated in the quarterfinals as third place in Group B was confirmed. The Taichung Bank command tower is Serbian coach Branislav Moro, who commanded the North Korean 4/25 volleyball team from 2014 to 2016.
Bayan Kongor (Mongolia), played by Bayar Saihan (Mongolia), who is about to join OK Financial Group in the Korean professional volleyball men’s division, defeated Diamond Food Fine Chef Air Force (Thailand) 3-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals by finishing second in Group C. Bayang Kongor will face Korean Air in Group E of the quarterfinals.
Ginseng Corporation Oh Se-geun, who won the MVP of the professional basketball championship, poses in a park near Anyang Gymnasium after an interview with the Segye Ilbo on the 15th. Reporter Lee Jae-moon
This championship match is evaluated as ‘the best ever’. Ginseng Corporation and SK met for two years in a row and built a ‘rival’, and accordingly, the match was decided only after the last 7th game was overtime. The 7th overtime game is the first since the launch of professional basketball. When Byun Jun-hyeong’s shot hit the rim 34 seconds before the end of overtime, when the team was leading by one point, Oh Se-geun led the foul after winning the rebound alone, and succeeded in both free throws, virtually putting a wedge in the game. Oh Se-geun said, “All around us were SK players, but I felt that the ball would hit the rim and come out, so I went in and got a rebound. I shook my body at the thought that I should not be taken away, but a foul was declared.” The second was thrown with confidence.” Game 7 of the championship match was a real crucible of enthusiasm. The players’ ears were deafened. “It was so hot that I wondered if I had ever felt this level of heat and shouts during my career as a player. I’m not normally a player who celebrates, but I got chicken skin that came out on its own. It was even better to win at home amidst the enthusiastic support.”
Who is his ‘role model’? For his playing style, he picked Dirk Nowitzki (45, Germany) of the NBA. Oh Se-geun’s shirt number is 41, following Nowitzki’s. Nowitzki is the best ‘legend’ who has been on the NBA stage for 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and retired after giving the team its first championship. He resembles Oh Se-geun in that안전놀이터 he has a tall physical body and a sophisticated shooting sense. Domestic players include ‘Legend’ Kim Joo-seong, DB coach, and Yang Dong-geun, Ulsan Hyundai Mobis coach. Oh Se-geun said, “I learned a lot from watching Joo-seong, who is in the same position,” and “Dong-geun has a lot to learn not only about sports, but also about everyday life and human relationships.”
Ginseng Corporation Oh Se-geun, who won the MVP of the professional basketball championship, poses in a park near Anyang Gymnasium after an interview with the Segye Ilbo on the 15th. Reporter Lee Jae-moon
‘Captain’ Yang Hee-jong, who has shared the joys and sorrows of Ginseng Corporation for over 10 years, is now leaving the court. Yang Hee-jong, who joined in 2007 and was a ‘franchise star’ of Ginseng Corporation for 17 years, was also a mental support for Oh Se-geun. Oh Se-geun said of Yang Hee-jong, “I felt joy and sorrow while being together at Ginseng Corporation. He was sick and there was criticism and encouragement, but he overcame it and sincerely wanted to tell Heejong-hyung, who played for 17 years, that he had a really hard time.” Even when he stepped on the court for the last time in his career 3 seconds before the end of the 7th round of the championship due to an injury, Yang Hee-jong approached Se-geun Oh and said ‘thank you’, and Se-geun Oh replied ‘I worked hard’.
Oh Se-geun’s final goal is to win his 5th championship. Like his own uniform number, he hopes to keep his active life until the age of 41. It has not yet been decided where the team will pursue that goal in the future. Oh Se-geun became a free agent (FA) at the end of this season. He is also discussing renewing his contract with Ginseng Corporation, which he never left. Ginseng Corporation was divided into before and after Oh Se-geun’s joining, and he shared an era of glory. Oh Se-geun, who joined in 2011, won a total of four champion trophies with Ginseng Corporation, including his first championship when he was a rookie. He is one league MVP and three championship MVPs, and his individual awards are also shining. However, it is also true that he receives a lot of attention from other clubs. An ‘open mind’, he doesn’t know where his career will go next season, but his passion for basketball remains the same.
“I devoted myself to Ginseng Corporation for 12 years and won four championships, and I am grateful for the much love from the fans. I just want to be treated appropriately within my competitive edge. I want to add championships so that I can wear all 5 championship rings on one hand.”