GYEONGJU - Five-time PBA winner Ga-young Kim, one of the most outstanding players on the Tour, was defeated in the final by Min-a Kim on Sunday afternoon. The winner had the best finish in the final that went into a deciding set after 3-3. The top prize of 22,000 euros eventually went to Min-a Kim, who was also beating 19-year-old Korean talent Ga-yeon Jang in the previous rounds.The two ladies in the final balanced each other throughout the match and left it to a seventh set, in which Min-a Kim was the stronger 9-7. The averages were 0.940 for the winner, 0.970 for the losing finalist.
In the men's semifinals, three Koreans face Semih Sayginer, the Turk making his debut in this PBA starter and has had a wonderful race so far. He defeated Spaniard Juan David Zapata, one of the most successful players in the PBA and former PBA Tour world champion, today, Sunday. Javier Palazón, the other Spaniard in the last eight, was eliminated by Sang-dae Lee 3-0 in score, but with an excellent average 1.778 against his Korean opponent 2.368.
Semih Sayginer started the match against Zapata with a 15-2 win in 3 innings, then went down 15-10 in the second set, but was just slightly better in the next two sets. Sayginer won 15-7 and 15-12. That led the Turk to 1.897 on average against 1.286 for Zapata.
The three Koreans in the semi-finals are Jung-ju Shin, a previous winner, Sang-dae Lee, Sayginer's opponent and In-su Park, who beat the famous Jae-ho Cho 3-1.
Semih Sayginer plays against In-su Park tomorrow, Monday, at 9am in Western Europe, 10am in Turkey, the other semi-final of Jung-ju Shin and Sang-dae Lee is on 6am Western European time.
Semih Sayginer on his way to the semi-finals in the PBA opener
Juan David Zapata, beaten to the finish by Sayginer
Ga-young Kim, the excellent Korean, beaten in the final by Min-a Kim