Brazilian Master Debut Victory! KB Insurance Continues Its Rise 5th straight win...Korea Electric Power Corp. has lost two consecutive games due to injury

Jan 09, 2025

The match between KEPCO and KB Insurance at Suwon Gymnasium on the 9th. KB Insurance manager Leonardo is delivering the operation to the players. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.9/

The match between KEPCO and KB Insurance at Suwon Gymnasium on the 9th. KB Insurance Villena is cheering with her teammates after scoring. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.9/

The new head coach of KB Insurance Stars, Afonso, won his V-League debut.

KB Insurance won a set score 3-1 (26-24, 28-30, 25-20, 25-17) in the fourth round match against Vixtom of Korea Electric Power Corp. in the Dodram 2024-2025 V-League at Suwon Indoor Gymnasium on the 9th. KB Insurance, which won five consecutive games, recorded 10 wins, 9 losses and 29 points. Korea Electric Power Corp. has lost two games in a row. It was the 11th loss of the season (8 wins and 19 points).

During the All-Star break, KB Insurance diligently reorganized its power. KB Insurance, which had been continuing its acting system, appointed Leonardo as its new coach.

Leonardo served as the head coach of the Brazilian men's national youth team for nine years from 2010 and has been in charge of various teams, including the head coach of the Iranian men's volleyball team. In particular, he has won a total of five times, including the Japanese V League and the Japanese Cup, during his six years as the head coach of Japan's Sunbuzz, enhancing his understanding of Asian volleyball. Leonardo said "I know there's a tradition, there's a history. I also know that my performance last season was not good. I also recognize that there are many difficulties and changes before the season. KB Insurance is a team with potential and direction. I think this is a competitive team that can come out on top one day. It's going to be a long-term project, and it's not going to happen overnight, but I'm going to fix it step by step"He threw his first pitch.

The match between KEPCO and KB Insurance at Suwon Gymnasium on the 9th. Director of KB Insurance Leonardo. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.9/

As we finished with three consecutive wins in the first half, we have to continue the atmosphere. Leonardo said, `I want to congratulate the players on their good performance. It is true that the first half of the year ended in a good atmosphere. However, there are areas and improvements that can be made better. And in order to maintain this good atmosphere, we must work hard, communicate well, and harmonize," he stressed.

On the other hand, KEPCO faced a bad situation. Foreign player Matheus was pulled out due to an abdominal injury, and Shin Young-seok was out of shape due to enteritis. KEPCO coach Kwon Young-min said, `Mateus focuses on recovery. I believe that (former) Kyohyuk will do well.'

At 6-7 at the beginning of the first set, KB Insurance succeeded in turning the tables by combining Park Sang-ha and Cha Young-seok's blocking and Na Kyung-bok's back attack. After that, Na Kyung-bok scored a blocked goal and widened the score to 16-11. Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) also launched a counterattack. Starting with Lim Sung-bin's serve ace, Lee Won-joong's blocking changed the flow. KEPCO tried to change the atmosphere once again with Park Sang-ha's blocking, but Lee Won-joong, who played as a substitute, shook KB Insurance by evenly spraying Seo Jae-deok, Lim Sung-jin, Jeon Jin-sun, Shin Young-seok, and Koo Kyo-hyuk. In the end, KB Insurance showed its last concentration. Following Na Kyung-bok's quick open, Villena's blocking score caught the first set.

The match between KEPCO and KB Insurance at Suwon Gymnasium on the 9th. KB Insurance's Hwang Kyung-min is making a high-five with Leonardo after scoring. Suwon = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2025.1.9/

The second set was also decided at deuce. It was tight from the beginning. Korea Electric Power Corporation showed off its outstanding offense power with Koo Kyo-hyuk scoring 10 points and Seo Jae-deok scoring 6 points (66.67%) and Lim Sung-jin scoring 4 points (50% attack success rate).

KB Insurance's Na Kyung-bok and Hwang Kyung-min combined for nine points while Villena led the attack with an attack success rate of 63.64% with eight points. Park Sang-ha's fastball went in in Sangsanghwang, where KEPCO led 24-23, and eventually spread to two consecutive sets of deuces. KEPCO failed to finish the set at 28-27 as Koo Kyo-hyuk's back attack was blocked by Na Kyung-bok's block. Then, Koo Kyo-hyuk once again put in the back attack, and Seo Jae-deok balanced 1-1 as he blocked Villena's open attack.

KB Insurance, which lost the second set, returned to the third set and played again. Following Villena's back attack at 11-11, Na Kyung-bok's blocking widened the score, leading to KEPCO's offense. In the end, KB Insurance took the third set by opening the score as it was, 25-20.

KB Insurance, which is in the upper hand, continued its momentum in the fourth set. By combining Villena's score in the beginning, Park Sang-ha's blocking, and Na Kyung-bok's quick open, they widened the score. Since then, Na Kyung-bok and Villena's back attacks have been inserted in succession, and they have succeeded in calling out the second technical time with the second 16-10. Korea Electric Power Corporation drew the pursuit fire at the last minute, but KB Insurance, which was ahead of Na Kyung-bok and Villena's firepower, was overwhelming. In the end, KB Insurance succeeded in winning the fourth set and taking three points.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.