Korean Air beats ‘3.57%’ odds… Yosubani picked first overall
Korean Air has selected Yosvani Hernandez as the latest foreign player to join its quest for a fifth consecutive title.
Korean Air selected Yosvani, who played for Samsung Fire last season, in the 2024 Professional Volleyball Men’s Foreign Player Draft held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Nov. 11.
It was a lucky pick. Korean Air 토토 beat the odds of 3.57% to get the first pick on the day.
The defending champions had the luck of being the first to call the player, despite having the fewest five marbles in the “marble draw” to determine the order of picks.
Korean Air head coach Tommy Tilikainen selected outside hitter Yosvani, who was out of contract with Samsung Fire.
Yosubani returns to Korean Air after a four-year absence following the 2020-2021 season.
At No. 2, Hyundai Capital called up Leonardo Leyva Martinez, who opted out of his contract with OK Financial Group.
With Leo, who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the regular season last year, Hyundai Capital will have a strong trio of Jeon Kwang-in, Heo Su-bong, and Leo.
KB Insurance, who had previously opted to re-sign Andres Villena, called his name in the order in which they were selected, while fourth-ranked KEPCO selected Cuban Luis Elian Estrada.
Woori Card selected Dutch apogee spiker Michael Ahey, while sixth-ranked Samsung Fire selected Matej Kok, who did not finish the previous season with Woori Card due to an ankle ligament injury.
Last but not least, OK Financial Group selected Italian Manuel Luconi.
The foreign players who will play in the V-League in the 2024-2025 season have been selected, with returning players earning $550,000 per year and new players earning $400,000 per year.