The people's invincible defeat continues! KB Insurance Caught Korean Air and Got 89.5% Odds...Biyena + Na Kyung-bok won the first round of the joint PO with 38 points
Mar 26, 2025
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KB Insurance laughed first. 89.5% (17/19) probability was grasped in the 'Sports of Probability" volleyball.
KB Insurance won set-score 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 29-27) against Korean Air in the first round of the men's playoff in the V-League 2024-2025 season at Kyungmin University Gymnasium in Uijeongbu on the 26th.
As a result, KB Insurance moved its home stadium to Kyungmin University Gymnasium this season and recorded 9 wins and 2 losses in the regular season, followed by one win on the spring volleyball stage in three years, brightening the path to the championship game.
KB Insurance fans, who filled the scene, enjoyed the carnival hotly, waving flags even after the game. On the other hand, Korean Air failed to present victory to owner Cho Won-tae and president of the Korea Volleyball Federation, who visited the site.
The probability that a team that won the first game in the men's playoff in the V-League will reach the championship game is 17 times out of 19 times (excluding the cancellation of the COVID-19 season).
In the regular season ranking, KB Insurance (2nd) was ahead of Korean Air (3rd), but Korean Air is a team that has won the integrated championship for the last four consecutive seasons. "I will be humble in the position of a challenger," said Leonardo Afonso, head coach of KB Insurance, who met before the game. But I'm confident."
KB Insurance has shown an all-time rise since the appointment of Afonso during the season, rising to spring volleyball. However, Russell, newly recruited by Korean Air following Yosvani-Maxim, was the biggest key. Russell played only five sets in this V-League regular season, but he has played for KEPCO and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance in the past, so the analysis is possible.
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On the other hand, Korean Air has to rely on Russell unlike usual. Korean Air coach Tommy Tilikainen predicted that the Kwak Seung-seok and Jung Ji-seok duo will start instead of Jeong Han-yong. The strategy is to build a more solid defense and leave Russell to attack.
It is the first playoff in five years for Korean Air, which has won the integrated championship for four consecutive years. However, there is no big problem because there are many veterans who have been working together since 'Korean Air before the champion'. Rather, coach Tilikainen, who is facing the playoff stage for the first time since taking office, is the key. He said "Russell and the existing players work well together and have a high understanding of them. Russell has already played with different countries, leagues and players, he stressed.
For KB Insurance, Na Kyung-bok of Hwang Taek and Cha Young-seok and Ya Koop Villena were selected, and for Korean Air, Jung Ji-seok, Kim Min-jae, Russell Han player Kim Kyu-min and Kwak Seung-seok were selected.
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At 5-4, he quickly lined up to 14-7 with his opponent's mistake, Jakub's serve ace, and even performance by the triangle formation. When Korean Air countered with Russell at the center, Park Sang-ha and Cha Young-seok caught off guard again. It was also Park Sang-ha's block that finished the set.
KB Insurance also took the second set. This time again, he ran from the beginning. Both wings of KB Insurance led 13-8 with fire.
This is when Korean Air changed its strategy. Jeong Han-yong and Choi Jun-hyuk were put into the outside heater and the middle blocker to strengthen their offense, and they followed 20-20 and 22-22.
KB Insurance broke the flow with Park Sang-ha's fastball, which he experienced before he passed away, and won even the second set with his opponent's mistake and Villena's shot.
Korean Air launched a counterattack from the third set. Jeong Han-yong and Choi Jun-hyuk also changed the setter to Yoo Kwang-woo instead of Han. Korean Air, which has completely changed, won the set by widening the gap from 12-12 to 19-14 and 23-17.
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KB Insurance, which was trailing 13-15, tied the score 15-15 with Na Kyung-bok's serve ace and fought against it. Park Sang-ha and Na Kyung-bok led 24-22 but allowed deuce again in the opponent's counterattack.
It was Hwang Taek-ui who shined at the last minute. At 27-27, he won with a pass paint, and KB Insurance became the first winner of the playoffs as the last Russell's attack escaped.
Villena (23 points) and Na Kyung-bok (15 points, 2 serve aces) and Jakub (11 points) supported them. Russell (31 points) struggled for Korean Air, but it faded.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
