SEOUL – The Korean professional leagues PBA (men) and LPBA (women) is starting the new season this weekend with a multitude of Koreans in the men's and women's tournaments. Spaniard David Martinez and Korean Ga-young Kim are the top earners and lead the rankings. Among the men, 13 Europeans are competing for the top prizes. The Spaniards and Turks each have six players in the men's tournament. In the women's tournament, where the prize money has been increased, no European players are competing.
Spaniard Javier Palazón has left the PBA after 7 years and is returning to Europe. The most famous Europeans are David Martinez, Semih Sayginer, Dani Sánchez, Juan David Zapata, Eddy Leppens, and Murat Naci Coklu.
The tournament, featuring 128 players, includes 25 players named Kim, of whom Jun Tae Kim, Young Won Kim, and Jae Geun Kim are the most famous. Jae ho Cho and Dong Koong Kang are other well-known Koreans. The Vietnamese are playing with 6 players in the PBA.
Dani Sánchez starts the first tour against the unknown Korean Hacker, who is a striking figure with his mask. David Martinez opens against Jae hyuk Kang, Murat Naci Coklu against Chang hyung Lee, Eddy Leppens against Gyu sik Han, and Burak Hashas against Jun tae Kim.
The women started today, Saturday; the men start the tournament on Monday.
