In the 2023-2024 season, all Asian quarter
players who will play an active role in the power of each professional volleyball women’s team have been selected. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea obtained the lucky ‘1st place nomination’ and embraced Thai national setter Phonpun Gedpard (30, 173cm).
On the 21st, the ‘2023 KOVO (Korean Volleyball Federation) Asian Quarter Foreign Player Draft’ was held at the Stanford Hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul. This tryout was conducted in a non-face-to-face draft method without practice games to encourage players who have difficulty participating in practice games due to national team or club schedules.
A total of 23 players (Thailand 8, Philippines 6, Japan 3, Indonesia 3, Taiwan 1, Hong Kong 2) submitted applications for the draft that day. Of the 23 players, there were 11 strikers (OP, OH), 4 middle blockers, 3 liberos and 5 setters, respectively.
With seven women’s volleyball teams (Korea Expressway Corporation, Heungkuk Life Insurance, Hyundai Construction, KGC Ginseng Corporation, GS Caltex, IBK Industrial Bank, and Pepper Savings Bank) attending, the order of nominations was decided by lottery on the spot.
70 draw balls were distributed, 10 to each team. This was different from the foreign and rookie drafts, which had differential odds based on last season’s ranking. It was a decision made out of concerns that even the Asian quota could intensify the power imbalance if differential probability was applied instead of equal probability. After that, draft nominations were made according to the order selected on the spot.
According to the ball lottery, IBK Industrial Bank received the first choice. Kim Ho-cheol (68), the director of IBK Industrial Bank, smiled. Hyundai E&C ranked second, and KGC Ginseng Corporation ranked third. Korea Expressway Corporation came in 4th, and Pepper Savings Bank rose in 5th. GS Caltex took the 6th place, and Heungkuk Life Insurance was automatically assigned the 7th place.
IBK Industrial Bank of Korea nominated Phonpun Gedfard. Phonpun, who is also the captain of the Thai national team, led Thailand’s rise by showing fast and sensuous toss in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and World Championships last year. “Thank you very much for nominating me,” said Ponpun. I want to learn a lot of mindset and mental aspects from coach Ho-cheol Kim (who is from the same setter). I really like Korea, and I want to travel. I want to learn Korean and get along with my colleagues.”
Next, Hyundai E&C pointed to Wipawi Sitong (24, Thailand, 174cm), an outside heater. Wipawi said, “Thank you for nominating me. I will use my strengths to help the team as much as possible.”
Koh Hee-jin (43), director of KGC Ginseng Corporation, called Mega Watty Puttiwee (24, 185 cm), an apogee spiker from Indonesia.
Korea Expressway Corporation decided to accompany Thai apogee spiker Tanacha Sukso (23, 180cm). Tanacha said, “I was impressed by Korean volleyball. I will come to Korea and show off my skills to the fullest. I am delighted to have been nominated,” he said.
Pepper Savings Bank decided to join MJ Phillips (28, 182 cm), a middle blocker with dual citizenship in the Philippines and the United States. Phillips said, “It has been my dream (to play in Korea) since I was young. he is very excited He said, “I hope the season starts sooner.”
Lastly, GS Caltex coach Sang-Hyun Cha (49) sang outside heater Medi Yoku (24, Indonesia, 170cm), and Heungkuk Life Insurance hired Reina Tokoku (24, from Japan), who can serve as both an outside heater and an apositive spiker. 177 cm) was pulled out.
In the draft that day,토토사이트 7 out of 23 players (30.43%) were called up. Three were from Thailand, two from Indonesia, and one each from Japan, the Philippines, and the United States.
The annual salary of the players selected in this Asian Quarter Draft is $100,000 (including tax) for both men and women, and there is no limit to the number of renewal contracts.