2011.12.23 Weekend Picks

KBL

* Changwon LG Sakers (13-15) at Goyang Orions (5-23)

* Goyang Gymnasium, Goyang, Gyeonggi

* Friday, 7 p.m.

The Sakers, currently sixth in the league, face the league-bottom Orions to extend their four-game winning streak.

The Sakers collected two victories from the Orions in their three encounters this season, but this is the first time that the team is traveling to Goyang, Gyeonggi.

The Sakers have last year’s top scorer Moon Tae-young and Aaron Haynes, who is currently the league’s second-best scorer with 26.24 points per game.

The team is the league’s best in free throws, making 76.47 percent, meaning the Orions should pay attention to fouls.

The Orions carry their attack with rookie forward Choi Jin-soo and Chris Williams, who ranks first in steals, second in assists and fourth in scoring.

But the team needs to tighten up their defense. The Orions allow an average of 83.4 points, the worst in the league.

V-League

* Seongnam Sangmu Shinhyup (2-14) at Gumi LIG Insurance Greaters (3-12)

* Park Chung Hee Gymnasium, Gumi, North Gyeongsang

* Saturday, 2 p.m.

Two bottom feeders of the league will look to end their losing streaks tomorrow. The Greaters are suffering seven consecutive losses while Sangmu was defeated in their last four games.

The two are even in their last two rounds against each other, both collecting a victory on the other team’s court.

The Greaters lost Bosnian attacker Milan Pepic due to an ankle injury and veteran Lee Kyung-soo who is suffering from a thoracic problem. The team now relies heavily on left attacker Kim Yo-han who is currently the third-best attacker in the third round.

The Greaters center Lee Jong-hwa also helps his team with blocks. He is currently first in blocks with 0.92 per set.

Sangmu, the military team, has the league’s weakest offense.

KTTA

* The 65th National Table Tennis Championships

* Jecheon Gymnasium, Jecheon, North Chungcheong

* Friday to Tuesday

Korea’s biggest table tennis tournament starts its five-day tournament today, gathering top men and women players in the nation.

A total of seven categories are up for grabs and top prospects in middle school and high school will also compete to test their skills. In men’s singles, Jeong Sang-eun, who is ranked No. 88 in the world will defend his title.