IBK has fallen again. IBK, coached by Kim Ho-cheol, lost to GS Caltex 1-3 (22-25 25-15 22-25 20-25) in the first round of the Dodram 2023-2024 V-League Women’s Division at Hwaseong Gyeonggi Town Gymnasium on April 24. They cautiously raised hopes of an upset by taking the second set, but ultimately fell into the quagmire of their opening three-game losing streak.
Despite taking a 9-4 lead in blocks and playing solid volleyball with foreign player Abe Crombie driving home a team-high 30 points, they were unable to overcome the firepower of GS Caltex, led by foreign player Silva, who scored a team-high 33 points, as well as captain Kang So-hwi (13 points) and vice captain Yoo Seo-yeon (9 points). As the score shows, IBK led in every set, but a late lapse in concentration prevented them from getting over the hump. 온라인카지노
IBK, which finished the 2022-2023 season in sixth place, acquired the No. 1 pick in both the Foreign Player Draft and the Asian Quarterly Draft, which was introduced to the V-League for the first time this season, and has yet to see much of an impact from its signings, which included Apojit spiker (right) Abecrombie and Thai national team setter Ponpun Gedpard. They are the only team without a win so far.
Still, it’s not time to be disappointed. The team is not at 100% strength, especially Fonfun, who was late to join the team due to a busy summer of international competitions, and hasn’t had enough time to train with the domestic players. As the saying goes, ‘volleyball is a setter’s game’ and the role of the setter in volleyball is essential. The position, direction, and tempo of the setter’s shots can make or break a team’s play.
Furthermore, Thailand is no longer the fringe of Asian volleyball. Even the big-money Korean women’s volleyball team struggles against the Thais. Ponpun, who has played in many leagues and has made a huge impact on Thai women’s volleyball, has no shortage of skills. In terms of skill, she is close to the top of the V-League.
If she can share her preferred play patterns and philosophy with her teammates and quickly integrate them, IBK could be very scary. Coach Kim also has absolute confidence in Ponpun, saying, “As long as he gets used to the V-League, there’s no problem.”
IBK is also seriously considering when to bring back middle blocker (center) Kim Hee-jin, who is recovering from knee surgery. While she is still able to play in some capacity, Kim has her sights set on the franchise star’s return in the second round. It’s a race against time to get back to full strength.