“I’m a bit shy now that I’m doing something I couldn’t do even when I was young.”
Men’s professional volleyball KB Insurance middle blocker Park Sang-ha started in the third round of the men’s team’s visit match against Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance at Daejeon Chungmu Gymnasium on the 19th and scored 12 points, including 10 blocks, leading the team to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory.
On this day, Park Sang-ha reported his first score by blocking the back attack of Samsung Fire’s striker Ali Fazli (registered name Fazli) when his team was leading 6-4. Park Sang-ha, who recorded four blocks in one set alone, continued to catch open attacks by Blahnimir Grosdanov (registered name Grosdanov, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance) in the middle of the set, made a total of six blocks by the second set.
Park Sang-ha’s fingertips did not know how to cool down even in the third set. He sealed the match by covering up his back attack once again at 22-19, and he scored a beautiful blocking goal against Kim Woo-jin (Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance) at the team’s 24-19 match point in the fourth set, tying the game in person.
Park entered the professional league as the fifth overall pick in the 2008 V-League Men’s Rookie Draft after being called upon by Dream Six (currently Woori Card). He then moved to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance in 2018, played Hyundai Capital in 2021, and moved to KB Insurance early this year.
During his heyday, Park also had a solid position as a member of the Korean national team, with the Korean men’s volleyball team taking the lead in winning the bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Notably, Park was praised as the best at blocking in Korea. He was able to utilize his 196-centimeter-tall height properly.
Park Sang-ha, who has been dominating Korean men’s volleyball for a long time, has also had difficulties preventing the passing years. He decided to retire as he fell behind in the starting lineup for the first time since his debut as a professional player in the 2023-24 season when he wore the Hyundai Capital uniform.
Park Sang-ha said, “I was thinking about retiring. I also had thoughts of a leader. I had already talked with Hyundai Capital. Then, KB Insurance contacted me. He said he wants me to lead younger players well,” explaining why he moved to KB Insurance.
Contrary to KB Insurance’s initial expectation that Park would set the team’s tone and help middle blockers grow, Park has accomplished much more than that, leading KB to rebound this season. Park’s 10 blockings in this match against Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance are the most in a single game. Indeed, he has forgotten his age.
Park Sang-ha said, “It’s embarrassing to do something now that I couldn’t do even when I was young,” smiling. “I think the opposing strikers underestimated me. I have a tall Villena next to me, so the ball was crowded towards me,” he said, lowering his posture.
Park Sang-ha said, “I exercise a lot. I think I do more than I did when I was young. Trainers are really good at taking care of my body.”
Acting KB Insurance manager Martin Blanco also gave Park a compliment. “Park is a very good middle blocker. He is smart and has the ability to predict where the ball will go. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate him. It’s not easy for him to get 10 blocks in a game,” he said. “Park always carefully analyzes and studies his opponent. He seems to have an interest in that.” 바카라사이트
In response, Park said, “As I am older, my body is a beat slower than younger players and I can’t jump as much as before. Instead, I analyze the opponent more.”
KB Insurance, which had six wins and nine losses and 18 points on the day, secured the fifth place by beating KEPCO (7 wins and eight losses, 16 points). KB Insurance ended the first round with one win and five losses. Park had a hard time in the early days of this season as she suffered an injury ahead of the season’s opening.
KB Insurance, however, has become a “complete group” with Na Kyung-bok and Hwang Taek-ui in the first round and Park Sang-ha in the second round. Since the second round, KB has been on the rise with a winning rate of over 500%.
Park Sang-ha said, “My goal is to rank fourth before the end of the first half. I will aim for the third place in the mid to late half. The players are going through a lot of painstaking efforts, so I hope they get results as much as they put in. I will help my juniors a lot,” heralding a high march.
