Japanese Player Ayako Sakai Wins First Professional Championship at ‘SY LPBA Championship’
Reported by Kwon Soo-yeon, MHN Sports Goyang
After enduring long-term hardships in other countries, Ayako Sakai from Japan emerged victorious on the domestic professional stage. The ‘SY LPBA Championship’ final, held at the KINTEX PBA Stadium in Goyang, witnessed Sakai, representing Hana Card, defeat Mina Kim from NH Nonghyup Card with a set score of 4-2 (8-11, 11-10, 4-11, 11-0, 11-8, 11-6) to clinch her first professional championship title.
Sakai, who started her professional billiards career in the 2019-2020 season, has been active in all seasons except for a temporary suspension during the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, based on her improved performance, she joined Hana Card and participated in the team league.
Sakai’s outstanding performance in the semi-finals, where she executed 10 impressive bank shots, showcased her skills and set the stage for an impeccable performance in the finals.
With this victory, Sakai joins Orie Hida from SK Rent-A-Car and Natsumi Higashiuchi from Welcome Savings Bank as the third Japanese player to win the LPBA championship.
In the intense first set, Mina Kim took an early lead with 6 points in the first 3 innings. However, Ayako Sakai seized an opportunity to make a comeback and started scoring. Despite missing a bank shot, Sakai managed to accumulate 4 runs in 7 innings and narrow the gap to a single point, impressing spectators. The score remained tied at 8-8 until the 9th inning, but Kim eventually secured the set with a score of 11-8.
Sakai’s Comeback and Ultimate Victory
In the second set, Mina Kim continued to dominate the game, scoring an impressive 7 runs, including a bank shot, in just one inning. On the other hand, Sakai struggled to execute her bank shots, resulting in a score of 3 points. Kim effortlessly extended her lead.
However, Sakai mounted a steady comeback and managed to tie the game at 9-9 in the 9th inning with 4 consecutive successful shots. The 10th inning became a thrilling moment as both players reached 10-10 game points. In a stroke of luck, Sakai made a decisive shot, winning the second set 11-10.
From the 3rd set onwards, Sakai displayed exceptional skills, overpowering Mina Kim in the 4th set with a score of 9-0. This time, Kim struggled with a series of unsuccessful shots, while Sakai’s bank shot proved to be her an invaluable weapon. Both players fought intensely in the 5th set, but Sakai emerged victorious with another skillful bank shot in the 10th inning.
The match continued to the 6th set, and the players were at a 6-6 tie, unable to score significantly until the 10th inning. The rally continued until the 13th inning, when Sakai once again executed a remarkable bank shot, leaving Mina Kim defeated.
In front of her eyes, Ayako Sakai secured her third Japanese championship and the final trophy of the ‘SY LPBA Championship’ with an 11-6 victory.
The LPBA winner of this competition will receive a prize of 30 million won, while the second-place winner will be awarded 10 million won.
Following the LPBA final, the professional billiards competition will continue with the men’s PBA match from the 5th to the 11th.
Hana Sakai Ayako card, PBA
(MHN Sports Goyang, Reporter Kwon Soo-yeon) Long-term hardships in other countries finally bore fruit on this day. Another Japanese champion was cheering on the domestic professional stage.
On the 4th, in the ‘SY LPBA Championship’ final held at the KINTEX PBA Stadium in Goyang, Ayako Sakai (Japan, Hana Card) beat Mina Kim (NH Nonghyup Card) with a set score of 4-2 (8-11). , 11-10, 4-11, 11-0, 11-8, 11-6) and won his first professional championship.
Sakai came over from the first year of professional billiards in the 19-20 season, and is active in all seasons except the 20-21 season, which was suspended for a short time due to the spread of Corona 19. This year, based on the performance better, he joined Hana Card and participated in the team league.
On this day, in the semi-finals, Sakai’s performance reached its peak when he hit 10 bank shots. The ‘clutch bank shot’ showed his power in the finals without fail.
Sakai, who came across an alliance in another country and finally escaped from the army, became Japan’s third LPBA champion after Orie Hida (SK Rent-A-Car) and Natsumi Higashiuchi (Welcome Savings Bank).
Mina Kim sprinted with 6 points until 3 innings in the 1st set. Sakai, who seized the opportunity, stepped up and started scoring. However, the attempted bank shot from behind was blocked by a kiss and failed to score. Kim Min-a scored consecutively with backhands, leading 8-1. Sakai tried another bank shot, but missed the chance. However, after accumulating 4 runs in 7 innings, he made a successful shot in the bank and managed to chase 1 point, drawing admiration. And the score was even at 8-8 in 9 innings. After a thrilling chase, Kim Min-a took the first set 11-8.
Nonghyup Minah Kim’s NH Card, Hana Card PBA Ayako Sakai, PBA
Mina Kim’s momentum continued in the second set. In one innings, he scored a whopping 7 runs, including a bank shot, and played the game smoothly. On the other hand, Sakai tried bank shots constantly, but this time it wasn’t working out. While Sakai stopped at 3 points, Kim Min-ah once again accumulated points without difficulty.
Sakai once again grabbed Mina Kim’s ankle steadily. In the ninth inning, he chased 8-9 with 4 consecutive runs. 10-10 game points in 10 innings, it became a thrilling situation. At the last moment, Sakai fired a lucky shot to set the second set at 11-10.
After 10 innings in the 3rd set, Mina Kim took it again, and in 2 innings in the 4th set, Sakai came back to life, overwhelmingly defeating Mina Kim with a score of 9-0. This time, Mina Kim was caught in a series of empty hits. Sakai’s bank shot at the last minute made the score set 2-2, a close game. After a sweaty match in 5 sets, Sakai managed to overtake with another bank shot in 10 innings.
The match dragged on to 6 sets. Tied together once, they could not score a big score until 10 innings and faced shoulders with a difference of 1 point. The rally lasted until the 13th inning, and Sakai fired another bank shot in a 6-6 tie. Mina Kim bowed her head at her repeated mistakes.
With the third Japanese champion in his career right in front of his eyes, Sakai fired a bank shot towards the final trophy of the championship and finished the match 11-6 with victory.
The prize money for the LPBA winner of this competition is 30 million won, and the second prize money is 10 million.
After the LPBA final, professional billiards will continue the competition with the men’s PBA match from 5th to 11th.
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