Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team, Seoul's Only Corporate Women's Basketball Team Founded in March 2023
Achieves Three Consecutive Championships Since Inception
Team Owner Lee Seongheon Resembles 'Ottogi Life' of Seodaemun-gu Office Party
The 'Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team,' the only team in Seoul established last March, has become a hot topic by achieving three consecutive national tournament championships within just one year of its founding.
The Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team is a newly formed team established in March 2022. It was composed of players who wanted to play basketball but had no team calling them or were released from their previous teams, making it difficult to continue their athletic careers.
They appointed the legendary coach of Korean women's basketball, Park Chan-sook, as their inaugural head coach.
Lee Seongheon, Mayor of Seodaemun District Office, is cheering for the Seodaemun District Office basketball team game.
In the early days, the team struggled. In their first tournament appearance at the '2023 National Business Basketball Federation Championship,' they were eliminated immediately after losing their first game by more than 20 points.
However, they did not give up. "The players trained harder with renewed determination, and support was not spared,"
said Lee Seong-heon, the mayor of Seodaemun-gu.
Then, in April at the '2024 National Business Basketball Federation Championship' held in Gimcheon, they achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Daegu City Hall, Sacheon City Hall, and Gimcheon City Hall consecutively, winning all three matches and claiming the national championship just one year after their founding.
In May, at the '2024 Taebaek Mayor's Cup National Business Basketball Federation Championship' held in Taebaek, they again won all three matches, securing their second consecutive national tournament championship.
The momentum of the Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team did not stop there.
On August 1, at the '79th National Men's and Women's Basketball Championships' held at the Yeonggwang Sportium National Sports Center in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, they won the final women's general division match against the Jeonnam Basketball Association with a score of 88 to 33, achieving a perfect 3-0 record and winning the championship.
Prior to that, on July 30, they defeated Gimcheon City Hall 84 to 67, and on July 31, they beat last year's champion Sacheon City Hall 62 to 54.
Thus, the Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team achieved an undefeated championship streak in three consecutive tournaments: the 2024 National Business Basketball Federation Championships held in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk in April, the Taebaek tournament in Gangwon Province in June, and this latest competition.
Additionally, Coach Park Chan-sook received the Coach of the Year award, and forward Park Eun-seo was honored as the Most Valuable Player at this tournament. Four teams participated in this event?Seodaemun-gu Office, Gimcheon City Hall, Sacheon City Hall, and the Jeonnam Basketball Association?competing in a full league format.
The next goal for the Seodaemun-gu Office Women's Basketball Team is the '105th National Sports Festival' to be held in Gyeongnam this October. Winning there would secure a grand slam for the year. There is also keen interest in whether they can maintain an undefeated record in all tournaments throughout 2024.
Notably, the team expanded its roster from eight players last year to twelve this year, which appears to have improved their performance.
Players who seized another chance and took on the challenge again have overcome the difficulties of their inaugural year under the guidance of the legendary Korean women's basketball coach Park Chan-sook, producing remarkable results from the following year onward.
The fact that players who had been left behind in the basketball scene came together and achieved three consecutive undefeated national championships within one year was thanks to the unyielding spirit of the coach, players, coaches, and team officials who persevered until the end.
The success of the Seodaemun-gu Women's Basketball Team is also a story that resonates deeply within our society.
Mayor Lee Seong-heon said, "The comeback and challenge of players who experienced failure are making a great impact on our society. I extend my congratulations and gratitude to the basketball team for raising the honor of our residents and giving hope that 'if you do not give up and keep trying, you can succeed.'"
He added that he hopes many people will gain courage from the example of the women's basketball team, who, despite harsh realities, maintained their will and continuously worked hard to ultimately achieve their goals.
Furthermore, he noted that the enthusiastic cheers of Seodaemun-gu residents, who fill the gymnasium whenever the Seodaemun-gu Office team plays, have become a highlight of the tournaments and are revitalizing the entire women's business basketball scene in Korea.
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