This is the result of the last two years of rebuilding. Hyundai Capital players show no signs of getting tired despite the forced march.
Hyundai Capital coach Choi Tae-woong declared a rebuild after the 2019-2020 season. They sent out veterans such as Shin Young-seok (37, KEPCO) and Hwang Dong-il (37, OK Financial Group) and formed a new team with young players such as Heo Soo-bong (25), Park Gyeong-min (24), and Hong Dong-seon (22).
The rebuilding process was arduous. He suffered extreme growing pains, staying in 6th place in the 2020-2021 season and 7th place in the 2021-2022 season. However, this season, young players have grown into the main pillars of the team and caused a sensation by climbing to second place in the regular league.
Hyundai Capital set out on the spring volleyball stage with a direct ticket to the playoffs (PO) given in second place. KEPCO and the 2nd best of 3rd PO were breathtaking bloody battles. From the first game, a fierce full set match unfolded for the longest time (158 minutes) in a single PO game in the men’s history. The second game also continued to the 5th set, showing a tight battle. Only the last 3 games were decided in 4 sets. 온라인바카라
Regarding KEPCO and PO, coach Choi said, “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a game so bleak that I can’t see the future.” “I had to prepare because I didn’t know how the outcome would change,” he recalled.
On the 28th, Hyundai Capital won a set score of 3 to 1 in the 3rd PO match against KEPCO in the 2022-2023 Dodram V-League men’s post-season held at Yu Gwan-soon Gymnasium in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. After winning 1 win each in the 1st and 2nd games, they won 2 wins in the 3rd game and confirmed their advance to the championship match.
Younger players filled the void left by Jeon Kwang-in (32), who left due to an ankle injury ahead of the PO. Next-generation ace Heo Soo-bong led the attack, and outside heater Hong Dong-seon, who was in his second year of debut, was also outstanding.
Coach Choi applauded the young players’ performance after the match. First, he said, “I’m happy to go to the championship match, but I’m even more happy to win today.” After smiling broadly, he praised, “(Former) Gwangin was injured and thought it was difficult in terms of power, but the young players filled the vacancy well.” Then, he smiled, saying, “I didn’t want to make an excuse that I lost because there was no madman, so I yelled bitterly at the players, but he seems to have tolerated it well.”
After winning two sets, he showed a slight slowdown in the third set. However, coach Choi recalled, “The players didn’t show much shaking,” and “Oreol was in good condition, and I wasn’t too worried.”
On the 30th, Hyundai Capital will play the first round of the championship match against Korean Air, which is ranked No. 1 in the regular league, at Gyeyang Gymnasium in Incheon. The championship match will be played on a best-of-five basis.
Coach Choi is full of confidence ahead of the championship match against Korean Air. “I thought before the PO that no matter who went up, I shouldn’t ruin the championship match because I’m exhausted,” said coach Charn.
The biggest concern is about the consumption of physical strength of Oreol (37), who is well past his mid-30s. However, Coach Choi showed confidence, saying, “Except Oreoll, everyone is young, so there is no problem in training. There are no physical problems.” This is a positive effect that resulted from the drastically lower age group of the team through the rebuilding over the past two years.
However, it is still unclear whether Jeon Kwang-in will participate in the championship match. Director Choi explained, “I am still concentrating on rehabilitation. My motivation has already been transmitted to the court,” and explained, “It is still difficult to protect players. I have to take more time and watch.”