GOYANG - 32-year-old Spaniard David Martinez won his second PBA tour this year in the final with another PBA star, Korean Dong Koong Kang. The score was 4-1, the averages 1.750 and 1.538. With that resounding victory, David Martinez elevated his status in the PBA cycle. He is second in the season rankings with two wins this year, the same as Dong Koong Kang. Martinez celebrated his 6th PBA victory overall with his Crown Hatai teammates like Jae-guen Kim and Duc anh Chien Nguyen. The final was played on Monday night, 9pm South Korean time, the ceremony at Kintex Stadium was around midnight.
David Martinez dominated the final against Dong Koong Kang, the Korean against whom he also won his first final this year. The score was 15-11 and 15-7 in the first two sets for Martinez, Kang came back in the third set 15-10, in the last two sets Martinez secured victory 15-13 and 15-14, total of bankshots 8, total caroms 80 for Martinez, 70 for Kang. David's comments on the early morning after the final: ’’I started off a bit slow, which should be logical in such an important match. After a few innings, things picked up and I started playing better. I was behind 9-0, but still won the set. That gave me strength and confidence for the next sets. It was not the best final we played together, we both made some misses. I was lucky to win the fourth set for 3-1 after Kang started with 8 in the first inning. After that, I was able to finish well.‘’
Martinez looked back on a strong tournament, in which he rarely got into trouble for his wins. The most notable match was the one at the last 32 against Filippos Kasidokostas, which Martinez won 3-0 with the averages 2,250/1,167. Furthermore, Martinez played against three Park's and in the semi-final against Korean Seung-hee Park, which he won 4-1 (2,464/0,885). Martinez on that match against Kasidokostas: ’’He made too many mistakes and I played well, won the first two sets and when he was on 11, he made another miss. Then I went out with 3.‘’ After winning the final, David Martinez will take one day of rest. He will then start training again at his sponsor Gorina's billiard shop in Gangnam. ‘’My wife Ana Cristina was not here this time, she is coming to Korea in a few days for the next tournament.‘’ That next PBA tournament starts on Sunday, November 3, the NH Nonghyup Card tournament.
The leader in the merit standings after six PBA tours this year is Dong Koong Kang with 270,500 Korean won (190,000 euros), Martinez is second with 151,000 euros, which is only about prize money in PBA tours.
David Martinez also watched the footage of the World Cup in Veghel from time to time during the final days. ‘’I followed the results and watched Fred's (Caudron) match against Myung Woo Cho and the final Caudron-Quyet Chien Tran.‘’
Kozoom/FB: How is life for you as a PBA star now in South Korea, David? Many interviews with newspapers, TV? Can you walk down the street without being recognised?
David: ,,My life doesn't change too much for me. Yes, some people know me, ask to take pictures, but it's not a big deal. I feel happy when it happens.’’
Kozoom: How long will you be in Korea this time?
David: ’’,I came here in the first week of September and will return to Spain in mid-December. That depends on the results in the Tour.‘’
Kozoom: Have you seen the Vietnamese shine in the last UMB events? Are Vietnamese players also on the rise in the PBA?
David: ’’Yes, in the last PBA event, Phuong Linh Nguyen was one of the better players. He has a very good season so far. The Vietnamese are performing better every year. Only Ma has won a tournament, but many Vietnamese have made it to the podium.‘’
The next PBA tour, the 7th of nine, is the Nonghyup Card tour from November 3 to 11. The team league starts again on December 13. The finals, with the PBA championship, start on March 17 of 2025.
The standings in the PBA (prize money) after 6 PBA tours:
- Dong Koong Kang 270,500,000 Korean won
- David Martinez 216 million
- Dani Sánchez 105
- Sang-pil Eom 42
- Young Won Ki9m 41
- Murat Naci Coklu 39.5
- Javier Palazón 19
- Phuong Linh Nguyen 18.5
- Lütfi Cenet 17.5
- Burak Hashas 15
11 Yusuke Mori
12 Antonio Montes
14 Semih Sayginer
17 Minh Cam Ma
24 Eddy Leppens
25 Dinh Nai Ngo
30 Ja-ho Cho
David Martinez with the trophy and the flowers
Celebrating victory after the winning point against Dong Koong Kang
Dong Koong Kang, after two wins this season second time runner up