Ansan OK Financial Group Claims First-Ever Championship in Professional Volleyball Cup
Ansan OK Financial Group has made history by capturing their first championship title since the establishment of the team in the professional volleyball cup competition. They emerged victorious with a fixed score of 3-1 (25-23 22-25 25-23 25-20) in the men’s final of the 2023 Gumi-Dodram Pro Cup Volleyball Tournament held at Park Chung-hee Gymnasium in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk on the 13th.
OK Financial Group, the only professional men’s volleyball team that had never won a cup competition, achieved an incredible upset by clinching the top spot in the tournament and earning a prize of 50 million won.
The team, originally known as Rush & Cash when it was founded in 2013, had previously finished as runners-up three times in the cup competition (in 2015, 2019, and 2021), but this victory marks their first ever championship win.
The guidance of Okino Massage, the new Japanese coach for OK Financial Group, played a pivotal role in their success. Okino, who became the first Japanese coach in the history of men’s professional volleyball in May, proved his leadership abilities by guiding the team to victory in his first term.
Sinho-jin from OK Financial Group received an overwhelming majority of votes in a press poll, earning him the prestigious MVP title of the tournament. Additionally, Lee Jin-seong was awarded the Rising Star Award.
A Hard-Fought Battle in the Semifinals
In the intense semifinal match held the previous day, OK Financial Group demonstrated their resilience by staging a thrilling comeback to secure a 3-2 (32-30 15-25 30-32 25-22 15 -9) victory over invited team Panasonic. This hard-fought victory propelled them to the final, where they continued to display their determination to succeed.
A Seesaw Battle in the Final Set
The Men’s Final, the most highly anticipated match of the tournament, proved to be a nail-biting showdown between OK Financial Group and Daejeon Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Both teams engaged in a seesaw battle, with the score swinging back and forth from 12-12 to 23-23.
With Ok Financial Group leading 24-23, a quick opener from Shin Shin tipped the scales in their favor, with Myung-Woo Kwak delivering a precise shot. Park Won-bin then made a crucial save to deny Kim Jeong-ho’s back attack, and Cha Ji-hwan capitalized on Kwak Myeong-woo’s shot, securing a 25-23 victory in the set and establishing a 2-1 lead for OK Financial Group.
OK Financial Group’s Dominance and a Fierce Comeback
In the 4th set, OK Financial Group appeared to be cruising to an easy victory with a commanding 17-8 lead. However, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance launched a fierce counterattack, narrowing the gap to 21-18.
Jeon Jin-seon’s timely block against Park Seong-jin’s attack widened the score gap to four points and brought the team to match point at 24-19. Although there was a momentary scare when a video review showed that Park Seung-soo’s fingertips had touched the ball before it went out, OK Financial Group ultimately sealed the victory with Shin Ho-jin’s powerful back attack that hit the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance blocker and sailed outside the line.
Sinho-jin showcased remarkable performance throughout the tournament, scoring 34 points with 12 successful attacks and an attack success rate of 72.34%, contributing significantly to OK Financial Group’s triumph.
[Source: 경기신문 = 정민수 기자]
Ansan OK Financial Group reached the top of the professional volleyball cup competition for the first time since the team was established.
OK Financial Group defeated Daejeon Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance by a fixed score of 3-1 (25-23 22-25 25-23 25-20) in the men’s final of the 2023 Gumi-Dodram Pro Cup Volleyball Tournament held in Park Chung-hee Gymnasium in Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk on the 13th and won the championship.
As a result, OK Financial Group, the only professional men’s volleyball team that had never won a cup competition, reached the top of the cup competition for the first time in history, and succeeded in an upset, winning 50 million won in money award. .
OK Financial Group, founded in 2013 as Rush & Cash, won the second place three times in the cup competition in 2015, 2019, and 2021, and this is the first time it has won.
Ogino Massage, the new coach of OK Financial Group, who became the first Japanese coach in the history of men’s professional volleyball in May, proved his leadership by reaching the top in this cup competition, his first term.
OK Financial Group’s Sinho-jin received 27 out of 31 votes in a press poll and was chosen as the MVP of the tournament, and Lee Jin-seong received the Rising Star Award.
In the semi-final match held the previous day, OK Financial Group, who reached the final after an exciting come-from-behind victory with a set score of 3-2 (32-30 15-25 30-32 25-22 15 -9) after a full set match against the invited team Panasonic, OK Financial Group reached the last one set that day. From then on, a tight battle continued.
OK Financial Group, which was playing a see-saw game with the left and right double cannons of Cha Ji-hwan and Shin Shin-jin, scored a stable score at 22-21, with Jeon Jin-seon intercepting the open attack of Park Seong- jin following the opponent Lee Service Ho-gun.
OK Financial Group allowed Shin Ho Shin to open consecutive quick games at 24-21, and was trailed by 24-23, one point, but Shin Ho-jin finished the set with a back attack and took the lead.
After entering the second set, OK Financial Group allowed Park Seong-jin and Kim Jeong-ho to open consecutive attacks at 22-22, and Jeon Jin-seon’s fast attack was blocked by opponent Kim Jun-woo , giving the set 22-25.
The winner of the match was the 3rd set with a set score of 1-1.
Both teams played a see-saw game, conceding and receiving points from 12-12 to 23-23, engaging in a fierce battle worthy of the cup finals.
OK Financial Group took the lead, 24-23, with a quick opener from Shin Shin, who received an accurate shot from Myung-Woo Kwak.
Then, Park Won-bin saved Kim Jeong-ho’s back attack, and Cha Ji-hwan finished the shot from Kwak Myeong-woo, making the set score 2-1 at 25-23.
OK Financial Group, which continued its momentum, seemed to easily decide the match by leading 17-8 at one point in the 4th set, but suffered a fierce counterattack from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and allowed the challenge to 21-18.
However, Jeon Jin-seon blocked the opponent Park Seong-jin’s attack, widening the score gap to 4 points, and tied the opponent’s two rooms to make a match point of 24-19.
OK Financial Group cheered as if victory was confirmed when opponent Park Seong-jin’s open attack was deemed to have crossed the finish line, but after reading a video, it was revealed that Park Seung-soo’s fingertips had u hit and went out again 24-22.
However, in the ensuing attack, Shin Ho-jin’s back attack hit the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance blocker and he fell outside the line, enjoying the joy of winning the first cup competition.
Sinho-jin of OK Financial Group scored 34 points with 12 attacks back and an attack success rate of 72.34% 7 points) also contributed to the team’s victory.
[ 경기신문 = 정민수 기자 ]
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