SEOUL – Dani Sánchez has fulfilled his reputation as a top international legend with two victories in a single month on the PBA tour. The 52-year-old Spaniard crowned the PBA year-end, winning his second consecutive final and collecting €65,000 each. In the previous final, Sánchez defeated the powerful Vietnamese Minh Cam Ma 4-2, this time he was the better of Korean star Dong-Koong Kang 4-2. Ji-eun Kang won the women's tournament in a thrilling final against Min-a Kim: 4-3.
Dani Sánchez confirmed his excellent form in the PBA in these final weeks of the year, where he is in winning mood after a mediocre season last year. The Spaniard has now won 14 matches in a row and occasionally shines with high averages, which he also achieved in the final against Dong-Koong Kang with 2.183 on average. Sánchez started with a first-set win (15-9), Kang tied it at 9-15, then Sánchez won two sets (15-8 and 15-0), after which the Korean rallied back once more at 9-15, before Sánchez securing the victory 15-9.
The Spaniard achieved this victory 26 days after his previous PBA success. It was his second victory this year, and Sánchez's third PBA tour win overall. This season, he reached the semifinals five times and the finals four times.
After the victory, Sánchez thanked the tournament sponsor, his teammates, and his wife and daughter who came to support him in Korea.
In the earnings table, Sánchez is now sixth with a total of 270,000 euros. The top ranking award in this tournament went to Quoc Nguyen with an average of 3.750 in the round of 64.
The next PBA tour begins on January 3rd.
Ji-eun Kang won the inaugural Harim LPBA Championship trophy, securing her third career title and first victory in four years.
The last tournament of the year ended in a dramatic final against Min-a Kim. With the score tied at 3-3 (LPBA matches are played to 11 points per set, except for the final set with 9 points), the seventh set went to 8-8, with both players going fort he match ball. Kang scored the winning point with a lucky shot, ending a three-hour thriller.
Despite losing the first three sets, Min-a Kim fought back with remarkable determination, proving once again why she is a four-time Tour champion.
Kang earned KRW 40 million, the largest prize of her LPBA career, reflecting the Tour's steadily rising prize pool.
The Welcome Savings Bank Top Ranking Award (KRW 2 million) went to Bo-reum Kim, who averaged 2,500 in the PPQ stage. In her victory speech, Kang expressed mixed feelings: "I feel sorry for my good friend Min-a Kim, because I won with a lucky shot in a match I almost lost."
Dani Sánchez with the other final player Dong Koong Kang
Dani Sänchez, the former UMB legend, won three PBA events
Ji-eun Kang, the ladies winner