[On-Site Interview] "She played so well, so why was she scolded?" Despite a near-triple-double performance → Head Coach Choi Yoon-ah's strict approach to developing Kim Ji-young: "As the point guard, I demand a strong sense of responsibility"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Incheon Shinhan Bank guard Kim Ji-young delivered an outstanding performance, falling just one assist short of a triple-double. However, after the game, what Head Coach Choi Yoon-ah offered was not solely praise. In fact, she first mentioned that she had "scolded her quite a bit."

Shinhan Bank, led by Head Coach Choi Yoon-ah, defeated Cheongju KB 76-54 in the third-place match of the 2026 KB Kookmin Bank Park Shin-ja Cup held at the Cheongju Indoor Gymnasium on the 11th.

With this victory, Shinhan Bank finished the tournament in third place. This marked a meaningful achievement, as it was their first time reaching the semifinals since the Park Shin-ja Cup was restructured into an international format in 2023, followed by securing the bronze medal.

Kim Ji-young stood at the center of the victory. Playing as the point guard, Kim recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. It was a versatile performance that would have resulted in a triple-double had she added just one more assist.

Hong Yu-soon also contributed with 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Noguchi Sakura recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

However, when asked about Kim Ji-young after the game, Head Coach Choi Yoon-ah shared an unexpected perspective.

Head Coach Choi, known as a "legendary guard" who performed at the top level of the league during her playing days, revealed, "Actually, I scolded Ji-young quite a bit after the game ended."

Judging solely by the statistics of 13 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals, it was certainly a game worthy of praise. However, Head Coach Choi's criteria were not limited to simple individual records.

Head Coach Choi explained, "It is not about winning or losing the game. Because I entrusted her with the role of the team's point guard, I demand a great deal of responsibility regarding the flow of the game."

She continued, "While there were aspects where Ji-young performed well today, looking at the overall picture, there are areas that need to be further developed," emphasizing, "I keep bringing this up because I believe she is fully capable of doing so."

In other words, the higher demands stem from her strong performance.

Kim Ji-young took on the role of point guard for Shinhan Bank in this tournament, handling various duties ranging from offensive coordination to rebounding and defense. In particular, against KB on this day, she grabbed a remarkable 13 rebounds, actively engaging in battles under the basket. She is expected to play an important role in the new season.

Head Choi acknowledged Kim Ji-young's growth. He stated, "Rather than describing her as more stable than last year, I think she now understands what needs to be done in specific situations," adding, "I believe she has also come to realize many of her own shortcomings."

He added, "Through this tournament, she likely gained a lot of insight into the process of accepting the standards I demand."

However, what Head Coach Choi emphasizes most to Kim Ji-young is not just technical skill.

Head Coach Choi, who has been known for her strong competitive spirit since her playing days, considered a "refusal to lose" attitude to be of paramount importance.

Head Coach Choi said, "I do not think I am teaching basketball exceptionally well. However, there is one thing I have consistently emphasized since my playing days: the refusal to lose."

She continued, "In fact, I believe skill levels are often separated by a hair's breadth. The difference lies in who pushes harder to win and who backs down," revealing her basketball philosophy, "I think that especially in women's basketball, this aspect creates small but significant differences."

This meant that certain qualities must be established before technical skills. Head Coach Choi emphasized, "I believe that only when these qualities are prioritized can technical skills be layered on top," adding, "If one lacks both the skills and such an attitude, I think no amount of effort to instill good technique will be effective."

Judging by her statistics alone, Kim Ji-young delivered a flawless performance on this day. However, Head Coach Choi Yoon-ah was looking toward a level even higher than that.

That is why she was scolded despite recording 13 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original