Cho Ye-eun, the youngest player who has never played in the first round, is considered an ambush. Will she be able to catch the eye of Captain Kang Dong-gung in the second round.
SK Rent-A-Car confirmed its victory early on the 22nd by accumulating 19 cumulative points with 6 wins and 2 losses in the first round of the “Welcome Savings Bank PBA Team League 2024-25” held at KINTEX PBA Stadium in Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do.
SK Rent-A-Car had a fierce battle with Hana Card, the runner-up, until the very last minute. It was like a battle of rankings as if watching the final round of the 23-24 season. However, as Hana Card failed to manage points due to multiple wins in full set, SK Rent-A-Car had a chance.
The MVP was won by Eddie Leffens of Belgium, who ranked first overall with 6 wins and 1 loss in the multiplier singles, 6 wins and 2 losses in doubles, 12 wins and 3 losses overall and an average winning rate of 80%.
Notably, captain Kang Dong-gung has been a whistleblower this season. He won the Woori Financial Capital Championship at the opening game of his individual tour, and immediately became the runner-up at the Hana Card Championship of the second tour. He is enjoying “Hulk time” by winning the first round of the team league.
When asked how he felt about winning the first round, Kang said, “I still can’t believe it, it’s like a dream. It’s a touching moment while I’m playing the team league. I still vividly remember yesterday’s victory.”
SK Rent-A-Car is a team that has taken root since the launch of the team league in 2020. However, the team had no connection to winning the championship. Even through the postseason, he often had to suffer. It was not until the championship system changed to a championship system by round that he finally got the first win.
When asked why he seems to have been delayed in winning the championship, Kang said, “Among them, only me and the refusals are the original members,” adding, “In fact, at first, I wanted to play only with individual capabilities. However, since the team league is such a spectacular and short game, I think it became difficult because the players were embarrassed.”
SK Rent-A-Car has been running for two seasons with little change of members since it has been in its current form only in the 22-23 season. Kang Dong-gung replied, “As the same members continued for two years, I think it was an opportunity to understand the character and style of the players and to gain faith.”
Understanding the tendencies of team members has resulted in more efficient ordering. Hida, who felt somewhat burdened by the team league, was removed from the doubles, and Kang Ji-eun, who is strong in singles, was deployed in the sixth set. The results were good.
Hida, who sat next to me, also smiled, saying, “I think the team’s results are more important than personal will, so I followed the leader’s instructions. I’m satisfied that the team members who play with me are very good.” 토토사이트
SK Rent-A-Car, which has confirmed its advance to the post-season, is preparing for the second round somewhat more leisurely than other teams. Naturally, attention was paid to Cho Ye-eun, the youngest who had never received a chance to play in the first round.
Cho Ye-eun, born in 2002, is the first and only ‘fostering player’ to be selected under the PBA’s professional club system.
SK Rent-A-Car selected Cho Ye-eun, who ranked No. 1 in the 2021 LPBA tryout, as its 2022 player. After providing support for individual training and practice for about a year, the club appointed Cho as its official player with 24-25 seasons to go. Unfortunately, Cho was never listed in the first round order.
Cho, who seemed a bit nervous in front of many reporters, soon regained his youngest-like smartness. “I couldn’t play in the first round match, but it was a good opportunity to learn just by watching my teammates play in front of me,” he said.
And the secret weapon that captain Kang Dong-gung mentioned that he prepared in the second round, or ‘Hidden Card’, was none other than Cho Ye-eun.
“I wonder why they let me participate now, but I will still do my best,” Cho said in a fresh response. “I often asked (Kang Dong-gung) why he didn’t let me participate. I understand with my head, but I felt different. But I would have felt sad if my team hadn’t won,” Cho said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Meanwhile, the PBA team league, which finished the first round, will play the second round from September 25 to October 3. Earlier, the “2024 PBA SY Bazar Hanoi Open” will be held at the Grand Plaza Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, the third tour of the season, from August 19 to 26.
