DAEGU, South Korea -- The 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, "Team 19" KATUSA basketball team won the Area IV KATUSA basketball championship against the USAG-Daegu team at Camp Walker, Mar. 17.
The annual basketball tournament held across Area IV concluded with the Team 19's victory against other units across the area. This year's KATUSA basketball league displayed teamwork, partnership and sportsmanship throughout the season.
U.S. and Republic of Korea soldiers competing in sports, is priceless scenery that can only be observed in South Korea. The KATUSA soldiers are Korean augmented troops to the United States Army working and living together, exchanging cultural partnership with U.S. counterparts.
Area IV basketball championship had two matches, with Team 19 basketball team winning both of them.
KATUSAs from the 19th ESC and USAG-Daegu had their first game on the Mar. 10 ending with the victory of Team 19 by 13 points against USAG-D by 12. With a one point difference between the two teams, the game gained tension among the audience.
The second match took place on Mar. 17 where the two team competed neck to neck. Team 19's KATUSA basketball champions entered the over-time session after fighting a hard match with the Garrsion team. The victory was all the more dramatic as Pvt. Oh Min-woo, 19th ESC SGS-Protocol administration assistant, who made a 'slam dunk' winning the team the first place trophies.
"The MVP for the KATUSA basketball league was definitively Oh," said Hwang Yoo-jun, 19th ESC G-6 telephone control officer. ?"He overturned the competition leading the 19th ESC to win the championship."
During the game, U.S. battle buddies came to the Kelly Gym to cheer for the basketball league. U.S. Soldiers who strong bonds with the KATUSAs have stopped by the Kelly Gym to motivate their units to play their best and receive the 'Champion of the year' title.
Spc. Ashley L. Little, HHC, 19th ESC Supply clerk, came along to the Gym along with her battle buddies to cheer for the KATUSAs.
"I love the KATUSAs, it was a lot of fun for me" said Little. "It was interesting to see my battle buddies from a different country play one of the most popular American sports."
Aside from the stronger relationships that the KATUSAs grow with their U.S. buddies, it was an opportunity for them to develop in-depth partnership with other KATUSAs at different units.
"It was a great game playing against the Garrison basketball team," said Oh. "I look forward to active interactions with other units and hope that we engage more in these sports tournament."
ROK-US alliance can be reflected in many different ways, including sports leagues that integrate the cultures of both countries.
Annual team building tournaments have nurtured the KATUSAs to grasp profound understanding of sportmanship and friendship.
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