"Why am I not playing?" — it is only natural for such complaints to arise, but Head Coach Park Chul-woo of Our Card has a unique approach to player management... They defeated Korean Air without their top scorer

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Although they rose to sole first place with a three-game winning streak since the season opener, the concerns of Our Card Head Coach Park Chul-woo have actually deepened. How to manage players who sit on the boundary between starters and non-starters has emerged as a key task in maintaining their upward momentum. Their thick player pool, which allowed them to secure a victory even without their top scorer, is both an opportunity and a source of concern.

Our Card defeated Korean Air 3-2 in sets (18-25, 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 15-12) in their home game in the first round of the 2026~2027 V-League men's division, held on the 11th at Seoul Jangchung Gymnasium.

With this victory, Our Card maintained sole first place with a three-game winning streak since the opener (8 points). They also avenged the shutout loss they suffered in the KOVO Cup semifinals on the 24th of last month.

The path to victory was dramatic. Top scorer Raphael Araujo (35) left the game from the second set due to right knee pain, but Kim Dong-young, who came in as a substitute, scored 16 points to fill the void. Han Seong-jeong recorded 18 points, while Kim Hyeong-geun and Park Jin-woo each contributed with 12 points. Libero Kim Young-jun, who replaced Oh Jae-seong due to back issues, also contributed to the comeback victory with tenacious defense.

After the game, Head Coach Park said, "I don't think players can perform well in all six games. If they step up when things get tough and contribute one game at a time, I believe we can continue to play good matches."

Indeed, Our Card secured victory on this day as bench resources filled the gaps left by their starters. However, Head Coach Park warned that another problem could arise as the player pool becomes deeper. He explained, "It is good if the player pool is strong. But if we are not careful, the team could fall apart. Because players may start thinking, 'Why am I not getting in? I am confident too.'"

He continued, "I keep telling the players that they can come in at any time, so please be prepared. The starters work hard on their own, and the non-starters try to get into the 16th-man roster by any means." He emphasized, "But the players in between — those who are not starters but also not complete non-starters — are the ones who require the most attention and management."

The standard presented by Head Coach Park was clear. What matters first is what players show in training, rather than their reputation or status as existing starters. He stated, "There is something I always tell the players. Our criterion for judgment is training. If you show a good form during training, you will play in the game."

Han Seong-jeong is a prime example of this. According to Head Coach Park, Han accepted a salary cut ahead of this season and worked hard to turn things around. He participated in evening night training almost every day to supplement his weaknesses, and led the team to victory with 18 points, the highest on the team that day.

Head Coach Park said, "He himself accepted the salary cut with dignity and said he would prove his skills. He came out for training every evening to manage his physical condition," highly evaluating his changed demeanor.

As competition for starting positions has intensified, the role of the head coach has also become more important. Head Coach Park said, "To help those players produce their best performance, I sometimes get angry and sometimes offer support."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original