Korean Air will choose Yosvani

The long-awaited number one honor was taken by Yosvani Hernandez.

The Korea Volleyball Federation KOVO held the 2024 KOVO Men's Foreign Player Draft at Dubai Science Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the 11th. The final choices of each club, which had been searching for players through a two-day tryout that began on the 9th, were revealed on the day.

A total of 40 players were drafted this time. Among the 36 players who participated in the tryout as invited players, Yosvani, Leonardo Leyva, Artem Sushko, and Maxim Zigalov, who played in the V-League in the previous season, waited for the team to make a choice. Also, Andres Villena, who was re-challenged, successfully extended her bid with KB Insurance, her original team.

The first order of the official event was the draft pick. The lottery started last season with the number of marbles distributed by KB Insurance 35, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance 30, Korea Electric Power Corporation 25, Hyundai Capital 20, Woori Card 15, No. 2, OK Financial Group 10, and Korean Air 5.

The result came as a surprise. Korean Air's orange ball, which contained only five of the 140 balls, was the first to come out of the drawers. Korean Air's table cheered and the stadium was filled with excitement. Hyundai Capital's sky blue beads, which contained 20 balls, were also placed in the second place. The nomination order was then decided in order of KB Insurance, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Woori Card, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and OK Financial Group.

Tommy Tilikainen, the coach of Korean Air, who beat a mere 3.57 percent chance to become the lucky No. 1 player, has named Yosvani, an outside heater who failed to renew his contract with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Yosvani once wore a Korean Air uniform as a substitute for Villena during the 2020-2021 season. After four seasons, he will return to Incheon.

Coach Fabio Storty of Hyundai Capital took the podium over Philippe Blanc, who couldn't join the Japanese national team, and chose Leo, who said goodbye to OK Financial Group, as his second choice. As a result, Hyundai Capital will be able to build a formidable offensive triangle-formation that leads to Jeon Kwang-in, Heo Soo-bong, and Leo.

KB Insurance called out Villena's name in a given order, followed by KEPCO's Kwon Young-min who chose "New Face" Louis Elian Estrada 24, Cuba, 2m1cm. Lewis, who can play both an outside heater and an apogit speaker, is Cuba's Shin Seong, born in 2000. Lewis, who boasts dynamic jumps and high RBIs, was evaluated as having exceptional ability in attack.

In lieu of Mauricio Paes, who was absent due to the Iranian national team, Jaeheon Kim's chief coach took the microphone. Kim chose "Apogit Spiker" Michael Ahi 25 years old, 1m96 centimeters. His height was somewhat disappointing compared to other players, but he caught the eye with his powerful jump and energetic spike. He can also handle an outside heater. He also received high marks for his active attitude in testing.

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, which was pushed to the sixth place after receiving the second-most 30 balls, asked for time and was in deep agony. Coach Kim Sang-woo, who passed the dango, nominated Mattei Kok 27 years old, Slovenia, 1m96 centimeters, who left the game due to injury while playing for Woori Card last season. Lastly, Ogiino Masah, director of OK Financial Group, chose Apogit Spiker Manuel Luconi 25 years old, Italy, 192 centimeters. 스포츠토토

New players will receive an annual salary of $400,000 about 500 million won for the upcoming season and $550,000 about 700 million won for the renewed player. Maxim and Artem failed to get re-employed, and Kyle Russell, Ronald Jimenez, and Thomas Edgar, who are other "V-League experienced workers," were unfortunately not called by the club.