Hi-Pass beat Pink Spiders to force fifth-game championship decider

Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass pulled off another big upset on Tuesday to beat the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders 3-1 in the fourth leg of the 2022-23 V League championship, tying the score at 2-2 and forcing a crucial fifth-game decider.

Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass's Khat Bell, right, attacks during a 2022-23 V League championship game against the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang on Tuesday,

Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass pulled off another big upset on Tuesday to beat the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders 3-1 in the fourth leg of the 2022-23 V League championship, tying the score at 2-2 and forcing a crucial fifth-game decider.

Tuesday's win was the second in a row for Hi-Pass, obliterating the Pink Spiders' two-game lead and making it all to play for in the final game of the competition.

The Pink Spiders reached the championship after winning the league, while Hi-Pass, who finished in third place, advanced to the series after beating Suwon Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate twice in the three-game playoffs.

The Pink Spiders won the first and second leg, before losing the third leg 3-1 on Sunday.

The Incheon side started strong on Tuesday, grabbing the first set 25-22.

Hi-Pass, however, tied things up in the second half, as they won the set 25-21.

The Gimcheon side’s Khat Bell shone in the third set, helping her side lead the set. They were able to eventually take the set 25-22 through cohesive teamwork and multiple errors from the Pink Spiders.

The game mirrored Sunday's game throughout the first three sets, with the set scores identical to those in the previous match-up.

Hi-Pass went down 22-18 in the fourth set, but bounced back yet again and won 25-23, with the last point scored by Bell, just like on Sunday.

The Gimcheon side ultimately won the game 3-1 and managed to take the championship series to a fifth-game decider.

With the win on Tuesday, Hi-Pass became the only team to win two championship games after losing the first two in V League history.

The Pink Spiders’ star players like Kim Yeon-koung and Jelena Mladjenovic displayed solid performances, scoring 24 and 26 points respectively, but top scorer Bell overshadowed them with 30 points. Bell was named as MVP.

“There are so many emotions,” Bell said after the game. “Being able to help them be in this position means everything to me.

“Today, I really wanted to win, and it showed.”

The last and only time Hi-Pass won the championship was 2018, when they also took the league title.

The Pink Spiders, on the other hand, have been crowned champion four times, with their latest title in 2019, when they beat Hi-Pass three times in the championship series to win the ultimate title.

The last game of the championship will take place at Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon on Thursday at 7 p.m.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]