Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders Coach Marcello Abondanza lifted the championship trophy for the first time in Korea.
Heungkuk Life achieved victory against the Jeonggwanjang Red Sparks with a set score of 3-2 (26-24, 26-24, 24-26, 23-25, 15-13) in the 5th match of the 'Dodram 2024-2025 V-League' championship final held at Incheon Samseong World Gymnasium on the 8th. With a series record of 3 wins and 2 losses, they successfully claimed their 5th championship. Including the regular season title, this marks their fourth overall championship.
After the match, Coach Abondanza noted, "This is truly a great victory. The championship encompasses everything. At the beginning of the season during media day, we heard that it would be difficult for us to play in the spring volleyball season. I also thought our roster had weakened compared to Hyundai E&C, Jeonggwanjang, and IBK Industrial Bank. However, since this victory was created by our players, I believe it is a remarkable victory."
Heungkuk Life has a painful memory of previously allowing a reverse sweep, losing after leading 2-0 against Korea Expressway Corporation in the 2022-2023 season. This time as well, after taking a 2-0 lead, losing 2 matches to Jeonggwanjang left them feeling uneasy. Even in the 5th match, Heungkuk Life won the first two sets but struggled after losing the next two sets.
Coach Abondanza, who stated, "I wasn't nervous," reflected, "We were engaged in a tight contest that went to deuce, and compared to two years ago, the last 2 points came our way, allowing us to win. In the 5th set, Kim Yeon-koung's outstanding defense and the two-tuck helped us secure the victory. If I had been nervous, I felt the players wouldn't have been able to execute the plays they needed to, so I told myself not to be nervous. It seems that worked well today."
Coach Abondanza, who has been with Kim Yeon-koung from Turkey's Fenerbahçe to Heungkuk Life, said, "I have always thought Kim Yeon-koung is an outstanding player. In fact, during a remarkable defense at 13-12 today, she showed how much she wanted to win and that she is a player deserving of victory. We were able to confirm that she is the greatest player in Korean history, the most outstanding player." He also remarked, "Jeonggwanjang was a really strong team. Without Kim Yeon-koung, we would not have been able to defeat such a balanced team."
It has been reported through foreign media that Coach Abondanza will leave for the Turkish league after this season. The coach said, "I want to say goodbye for the last time," adding, "It is not yet decided where I will go. However, I won’t be in Korea next season," and expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you to everyone. I have always done my best."
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