Hyundai Engineering & Construction won the final round of the 6th round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League against Pepper Savings Bank at Pepper Stadium in Gwangju on the 16th and ended the regular league as the first place.
Prior to the match, Hyundai E&C had 77 points, two points behind the leader Heungkuk Life Insurance (79 points). It was also behind in wins, and could have come from behind only with three points against Pepper Savings Bank. If Hyundai E&C lost two sets, it had to finish the regular league in second place.
Before the match, Hyundai E&C coach Kang Sung-hyung stressed, “The first set is important,” but the first set was taken away. From the second set, even if only one set was lost, the top spot was on the verge of collapse. To make matters worse, Pepper Savings Bank pushed Hyundai E&C hard in the third and fourth sets.
Hyundai E&C overcame several crises to finish the game in the fourth set, and dramatically ranked No. 1 in upset. When the game was over, Hyundai E&C players hugged each other and sobbed. Everyone shed tears of joy, led by Yang Hyo-jin.
These are meaningful tears. Hyundai Engineering & Construction has suffered from terrible luck in recent years. During the 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, the team ranked first in the regular league, but as the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not enjoy the joy of spring volleyball. Although it was ranked first, it was too much to be considered as a true champion. Last season, it ranked second, allowing Heungkuk Life to come from behind.
This season, Hyundai E&C also seemed to be losing confidence. Up until the fourth round, the team was leading by eight points in the second place, but in the final round, it continued to fall to the second place. Even Yang Hyo-jin, an 18-year veteran, bowed his head, saying, “How can this happen?” The joy of overcoming the fear of losing again led to tears.
Behind Hyundai E&C’s come-from-behind No. 1 ranking are players’ sacrifices and fighting spirit. Yang was recently diagnosed with a neck disc. He had neck and shoulder problems since early this month, and the pain was so severe that it was hard to even lift his head in the match against Heungkuk Life Insurance on June 12. Focusing on recovery for several days, Yang displayed miraculous fighting spirit and scored 23 points in the top-ranked match, leading the team to victory.
Thailand’s Weepawi who joined the team in the Asian quarter has not been able to perform 100 percent of the time due to his shoulder injury. He expressed his willingness to play in pain even though he was dissuaded from playing in the Thai national team. Weepawi took responsibility for 10 points and played his part in the outside heater. 토토사이트
Both veterans and foreign players showed this level of fighting spirit. You can guess how Hyundai Engineering & Construction worked on the Pepper Savings Bank match.
The fighting spirit continues. “I need to recover as soon as possible. For ordinary people, people can get injections, but athletes have too many restrictions. That’s why I’m praying,” Yang said. “I will concentrate on improving my physical condition until the championship game.” Although the situation is still uncomfortable, I am determined not to spare any effort to win the overall championship.
Hyundai Engineering & Construction will go straight to the championship game for the first time in 13 years since the 2010-2011 season. At that time, they succeeded in winning the unified title. Heungkuk Life Insurance and the winner of the Jeonggwanjangjeon, which will face off in the playoffs, will compete with Hyundai Engineering & Construction for the throne.