Coincidentally, Shin Hojin won the KOVO Cup MVP and proved his first overall ticket
Shin Ho-jin (22), a second-year apogit spiker of the men's professional volleyball OK Financial Group, made his name as the best striker in college volleyball when he was a student at Inha University. Although he is 187cm short, OK Financial Group held the signal as the No. 1 overall pick in last year's rookie draft because he had no one to match in college volleyball with his advantage of being left-handed, excellent jumping and fast speed.
He entered the V League with high expectations, but Shin Ho-jin's small height hampered him. In college volleyball, it was enough to cover the shortness with other advantages, but the shortcomings were more highlighted on the professional stage full of foreign players and tall blockers. This is why he scored only 126 points in 27 games.
Shin Ho-jin, who is so proud of his teeth, sharpened his skills after the 2022-2023 season and clearly proved why he was a talent that could be selected as the No. 1 overall player at the 2023 KOVO Cup. Coach Ogi no Masa (Japan) took office in June and gave Shin Ho-jin full confidence, which also contributed to Shin Ho-jin's strong performance.
OK Financial Group beat Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 3-1 (25-23 22-25 25-23 25-20) in the final of the 2023 Gumi-Bodram Cup professional volleyball tournament held at Gumi Park Jeong-hee Gymnasium in Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 13th. OK Financial Group, which finished second in the KOVO Cup finals in 2015, 2019, and 2021, enjoyed the joy of winning its first KOVO Cup with the victory.
Shin Ho-jin, who led OK Financial Group to the final by bombing 31 points, including six blocking, in the semifinals against Panasonic the previous day, broke his record in a day and was selected as the MVP of the tournament. The attack success rate is 72.34%, the highest attack success rate among players who scored more than 30 points in the KOVO Cup, which began in 2006. In particular, he scored 11 points in the fourth set alone, which confirmed his victory. The success rate of the attack in the fourth set was 91.67%. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance blockers could not stop it even though they knew it.
Shin Ho-jin's MVP award overlapped with several coincidences. He participated in the Summer Universiade in Chengdu, China, held from the 29th of last month, but returned home early as he was eliminated from the preliminary round. In addition, Jeon Byung-sun, who played as a main player, was injured in the group qualifying round, and Shin Ho-jin took over. As soon as he returned from China, his performance was fluctuating at the beginning of the tournament, but when his fatigue was relieved, he proved that his offense could be the highest in the KOVO Cup, where only domestic players participate.
After the game, Shin Ho-jin said, "I wondered if I could play right after visiting the Universiade." He wanted to gain some experience as a substitute and prepare for the upcoming V-League. In the beginning, he went back and forth as if he were running after drinking a bottle. "I felt like my body was warmed up by sweating a little from the third set," he said adding, "When I met domestic players while dealing with foreign players at the Unibesad, I felt that the blocked attack route was pierced here."
Although he won the MVP award, he also did not forget his gratitude to his colleagues. Shin Ho-jin said, "I scored a lot and won the MVP, but my teammates helped me in the process. In particular, I would like to thank the setter (Kwak) Myung-woo hyung for posting the ball to me," he said. "The older members said it wouldn't work with coffee. I think I should shoot the meat," he added.
Shin Ho-jin played a great role on the day, but Park Sung-jin, who played the apogit of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, was no less than that day. Park Sung-jin, the best "rising star" produced by the tournament, scored 30 points. The success rate of the attack was 67.44%. In recognition of his performance, Park Sung-jin won the MIP (Second-Winning Team Merit Award). Asked if he was stimulated by Park Sung-jin's performance, Shin Ho-jin said, "My heart went up and down on the other side of the court when (Park) Sung-jin played." While watching his attack, I thought, "Wow, Sungjin is really good," and added, "In the fourth set, the movement of the opponent's blocking and the defense emptiness began to be seen well." So I thought, "It's done." "I think I showed my skills completely in the fourth set," he said. 토토사이트
In the upcoming V-League, Shin Ho-jin must compete for the starting lineup. Above all, only when coach Ogino plays the position of foreign player Leo as an outside heater can Shin Ho-jin, a left-handed apogit spy, be given a chance to play in the main game. Shin Ho-jin is also well aware of this. He said, "Leo will come and the position will be decided, but I think I will get a chance someday if I do what I have to do." "I will not be greedy and prepare for the upcoming season as enjoyable as possible," he said.