Kim Jun-tae leads head-to-head series 1-0 after season-opener win
"Hulk" Kang Dong-gung (46) and next-generation standout Kim Jun-tae (31) are set for their second meeting of the season.
At the round of 64 of the HiOne Resort PBA Championship — the second stop on the PBA Tour — held Sunday at the Grand Hotel Convention Tower of HiOne Resort in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, Kang defeated Kim Hyeon-seok 1 by a set score of 3-0, while Kim Jun-tae eliminated No Byeong-chan 3-1 to advance to the round of 32.
Having both won their round-of-64 matches, Kang and Kim will now meet in the round of 32. Kim holds a 1-0 edge in their head-to-head record. The two previously clashed in the round of 16 at the season opener, the Woori Financial Capital Championship, where Kim prevailed 3-1. Both players posted averages above 2 points in that match, making for a tightly contested bout.
Several of the PBA's top players also advanced to the round of 32. Jo Jae-ho defeated Jang Nam-guk 3-0, while defending HiOne Resort Championship champion Daniel Sanchez of Spain swept Park In-su 3-0. Kim Yeong-won, the youngest world champion in the sport, beat Kim Gi-hyeok 3-1. Choi Seong-won, who eliminated Im Tae-su 3-0, will face Lee Chung-bok in the round of 32.
In the LPBA round of 16, held the same day, "billiards queen" Kim Ga-young swept her protégé Park Jeong-hyeon 3-0. "Cambodian Express" Sruong Pheavy defeated Han Seul-gi 3-1, and Lee Mi-rae beat Ha Yun-jeong 3-0. Kim Sang-a, Seo Han-sol, Kwon Bal-hae, Jang Ga-yeon and Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi of Vietnam also punched their tickets to the quarterfinals.
Monday, the sixth day of the tournament, features the PBA round of 32 and the LPBA quarterfinals. PBA action begins at 12:30 p.m., with LPBA quarterfinal matches scheduled for 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
