How about the 4th Christmas? The uniform is funny. Korean Air coach is full of playfulness ahead of the 12th-place showdown with Hyundai.

Dec 25, 2024

Jung Ji-seok wearing a Korean Air Christmas uniform. Photo courtesy =KOVO

Korean Air players in Christmas uniforms. Photo courtesy =KOVO

"How about the 4th Christmas in Korea?" I think I can say that the Christmas uniform is so funny (laughs)."

Korean Air coach Tommy Tilikainen's playful bombshell remarks sent the press conference room full of laughter. Korean Air will play the third round against Hyundai Capital in the men's team of Dodram 2024-2025 V-League at Cheonan Yu Gwan-soon Gymnasium on the 25th. This day was also Christmas day, and as the first-place Hyundai Capital and second-place Korean Air faced off, many spectators filled the stadium early. Hyundai Capital sold out 3,600 seats for the first time this season. At the time of online reservation, the server was down, and it was sold out within 30 minutes after the server was restored.

Tilikainen has been leading Korean Air for four seasons in Korea. This is the fourth Christmas in Korea this year, and the uniform specially made by Korean Air for Christmas seems to have been unique and funny in the eyes of the head coach.

"There seems to be a lot of cultural differences between Finland and Korea on Christmas Day," Tilikainen said after his remarks on the uniform. In Finland, I spend time with my family on the 24th, and I meet more friends or people around me on the 25th. It is similar in Korea, but in Korea, Christmas is in a different continent from my wife, so I think it is very different" he said.

Hyundai Capital coach Philip Blanc, who hails from France, will spend his first Christmas in Korea. Director Blanc said, `Usually Christmas is a day when you exchange gifts with your family or share the moment. In Korea, I started playing volleyball. If there's a gift that I can give myself today, I think it's a game win today. Spending Christmas outside of the country is a special experience. I usually spend it with my family, but I want to spend it with Hyundai Capital players who welcomed me as a new family this year," he said, smiling.

Korean Air Director Tommy Tilikainen. Photo courtesy =KOVO

As of the 25th, Korean Air has 11 wins and 5 losses and 35 points, while Hyundai Capital has 14 wins and 2 losses and 40 points. If Korean Air does not cross Hyundai Capital's wall on the day, the difference between the two teams will widen to a maximum of eight points. In order to prevent Hyundai Capital's leading solo system, Korean Air must win the third round game. Hyundai Capital laughed in both the first and second rounds.

Coach Tilikainen said "Hyundai Capital is a team with strong serve, and I think Heo Soo-bong and Leo are in first place with consistent good performance. Likewise, I think we showed a competitive performance to the end and fought a fierce battle. I think fighting spirit is important," he stressed.

Blanc prepared with the intention that he would focus on one game rather than ranking. It would be nice to have the upper hand against Korean Air. It will apply to all teams, but I think serve is the key point. It's a game between two teams with good organization, so I think the team with more organization will win"I expected.