Area Sports Round-Up – May 2025

A monthly overview of local sports, featuring area teams and brought to you…

By Zhang Jiuzhou (Julius)

Kia Struggles Early Despite High Expectations

As the 2025 KBO season kicked off, media outlets released results from a pre-season survey predicting this year’s regular-season champion. Approximately 46 percent of respondents selected the Kia Tigers, reflecting fans’ high expectations for key players like reigning champion James Naile and rising star Kim Do-yeong.

A separate survey of all 10 KBO team managers revealed that both the defending champions Kia Tigers and the LG Twins were unanimously viewed as the top contenders for the new season. One club manager commented, “The reigning champions are still building strength. The void left by Jang Hyun-sik’s departure seems to be filled by Cho Sang-woo, acquired via trade. With the return of Yun Young-cheol and Lee Eui-lee from injury, the squad looks stronger than ever.” A head coach added, “Kia maintains a solid balance between pitching and hitting, and the chemistry between veterans and younger players is excellent.”

Despite strong pre-season assessments, Kia has stumbled early in the standings due to several challenges. Injuries to star hitters Kim Do-yeong and Kim Seon-bin have disrupted the batting lineup, but the underlying issue lies in the team’s overall lack of offensive efficiency. While the starting rotation posted a respectable ERA of 2.91, the bullpen struggled mightily, recording a league-worst ERA of 7.62.

Additionally, defensive errors have plagued both the infield and outfield, leading to an overall sense of instability in pitching, hitting, and base running. For Kia to regain momentum, they must revitalize their offense and stabilize their bullpen. Last season, the team clinched its first unified title in seven years, thanks in large part to a dominant bullpen. Should the pitching staff recover, the Tigers may still mount a strong title defense.

Reis Shines in Gwangju FC Return

In the K League, Gwangju FC’s attack is flourishing once again with the return of Brazilian forward Reis, who rejoined the club after a two-year stint with Jeju United (now Jeju SK). Reis previously led Gwangju to the K League 2 title in 2022 and helped the team secure promotion to the top flight.

Explaining his return, Reis noted that after a frustrating 2024 season with limited minutes, he was contemplating his future when he received a call from Gwangju head coach Lee Jung-hyo. “That call helped me make my decision,” Reis said.

Reis has wasted no time re-establishing himself as a vital piece of Gwangju’s offensive setup. Operating between the striker and winger roles, he’s been instrumental in leading the attack. His quick adaptation to Lee’s tactical system and resurgence in form have earned him the nickname “Gwangju’s Strike Captain” from fans.

A seasoned veteran, Reis contributes on both ends of the pitch with relentless energy. His high appearance rate is also encouraging – after logging 1,867 minutes last season, he is already nearing 1,000 minutes this year. Club officials attribute his improved fitness to rigorous personal training. “I was shocked to see how much muscle he gained after returning from Jeju,” one official noted.

Reis’s presence has eased the burden on teammate Asani, whose scoring opportunities have increased as defenses focus more on the Brazilian. Together, the duo has accounted for more than half of Gwangju’s goals this season. With Reis in top form, fans are hopeful he can surpass his personal bests. While he scored 12 goals and provided 4 assists in K League 2 in 2022, he has yet to record double-digit goals in the top division. His best K1 season was in 2023 with Jeju United, tallying 8 goals and 5 assists. “In my current form, 10 or even 20 goals is absolutely possible,” Reis said confidently.

Peppers Finish Historic Season Amid Uncertain Future

In women’s volleyball, the AI Peppers wrapped up their 2024–2025 V-League season with a record of 11 wins and 25 losses, totaling 35 points. While their league standing did not change, the team achieved several historic milestones: most wins in a season, highest point total, longest winning streak, and at least one victory against every opponent.

The Peppers were especially dominant in December, winning six matches – the most in any month in club history – and in addition, they secured their first-ever three-match winning streak in January this year. Under the guidance of head coach Chang So-yun, who took the helm this season, the team displayed notable progress.

“It’s unfortunate that our ranking didn’t improve,” Chang said. “But I believe we showed meaningful growth by continuing to win games. As a first- year coach, I had my share of trial and error, but we overcame those challenges and became stronger.”

She added, “Our initial goal was to reach 10 wins, and achieving that was our greatest accomplishment this season.” Chang also expressed gratitude to the fans. “Ultimately, a professional team exists because of its supporters. I know fans had high hopes, and while we gave it our all, they may still feel disappointed. But thanks to those who stood by us, we made it through. We promise to return next season with a new look.”

However, the club’s future remains uncertain due to financial troubles at its parent company, Pepper Savings Bank. The bank posted a net loss of 76.2 billion KRW in Q3 2024 – marking the industry’s largest loss for a second consecutive year – and has undergone major restructuring, cutting one-fifth of its workforce. Given that operating a professional volleyball team typically costs between 6 and 10 billion KRW annually, questions are mounting about whether the bank can continue to support the team.

At the Asian Quota Draft held in Seoul on April 11 by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO), the AI Peppers selected Australian outside hitter Stefanie Weiler. Weiler, who previously played for GS Caltex in the 2024–2025 season, scored 161 points in 10 matches with a 33.74 percent attack success rate. Whether she can help lead the AI Peppers to even greater achievements next season remains to be seen.