The regular league champion Hyundai Capital secured the first match of the championship series, leaving only two wins to achieve the overall victory.
Led by Coach Philip Blain, Hyundai Capital defeated Korean Air with a set score of 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23) in the first match of the Dodram 2024-2025 season V-League men's championship finals (best of five) held at Cheonan Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium on the 1st.
Leo led the attack with 25 points, including two service aces and two blocks, while Heo Su-bong contributed 17 points. Jeong Tae-jun and Choi Min-ho each scored 8 points, with three blocks and one block, respectively, showcasing their defensive strength.
The championship victory probability for the winning team of the first match is 73.7% (14 out of 19 times). They overwhelmed Korean Air, who dramatically advanced to the championship after losing the first match in the playoffs against KB Insurance and winning the second and third matches.
After the match, Coach Blain noted, "It was a game that flowed as expected. I thought Korean Air would come at us with the momentum from their playoff victory. Though our reception was shaky and our blocking was not solid, I saw the fighting spirit and will to win displayed by our players. It was a good start."
Regarding the early substitution of Jeon Kwang-in instead of Shin Pyeong, Coach Blain said, "Shin Pyeong had a slight back injury during the preparation period for the championship and could not participate much in training. Jeon Kwang-in was in good condition and was someone who could strengthen the reception line, so I put him in, and he performed well on offense. Shin Pyeong also came in at the end and provided good energy to the team," praising both players.
Additionally, Coach Blain stated, "Overall, the attack efficiency was good. The reception was a bit shaky, but the wing attacks were executed well," adding that areas for improvement include, "We need to enhance our serve a bit more. I hope the two-man block can be effective as well. I would also like to see better reception on the floater serve," expressing what he hopes for in the second match.
With the momentum from their first match victory, Hyundai Capital will take a day off and aim for consecutive wins in the second match of the championship series to be held on the 3rd at the same venue.
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