Shinhan Bank’s keyword for the 2022-2023 season was ‘breathing’. As the main players have been replaced with new faces, it has emerged as a major task from the off-season to match the breath of the existing players and the newly joined players. Shinhan Bank, which showed a somewhat creaky appearance until the beginning and middle of the season, eventually overcame it and achieved the result of advancing to the playoffs this season as well. 

The shocking FA market

Shinhan Bank’s 2021-2022 season was special. Despite the chaotic atmosphere due to the sudden resignation of head coach Jeong Sang-il, coach Guna Dan, who took the new command tower through an internal promotion, showed leadership and reached the playoff stage. 

Shinhan Bank, which advanced to the playoffs through unexpected propaganda, faced Woori Bank. However, Shinhan Bank unfortunately knelt down due to the variable Corona 19. Immediately after finishing the regular league, four players were confirmed, and this caused an emergency. It was a playoff stage to be in the best condition, but Shinhan Bank, who was caught up in the corona issue, ended the season by giving the series to Woori Bank.

Even after completing a season that could be evaluated as sufficiently successful, Shinhan Bank’s clock ran busy. It is because there were quite a lot of resources that were released as free agents within the club. Starting with Danbi Kim, who was the biggest free agent, Kwak Joo-young, Lee Kyung-eun, Jeong Yu-jin, Han Chae-jin, Kim Tae-yeon, and Han Um-ji obtained FA qualifications.

The retention of Kim Dan-bi, who was considered one of the biggest fish along with Shin Ji-hyun and Choi Lee-sam, was, of course, Shinhan Bank’s top priority. Other than Kwak Joo-young and Jung Yoo-jin, who announced their retirement, the rest of the resources were also necessary players for Shinhan Bank. 

But then something happened that no one expected. Danbi Kim chose to transfer to Woori Bank. Everyone was surprised by the news of the surprise transfer of Kim Dan-bi, who was predicted to have the highest possibility of remaining among the largest fish.

The most shocked was Shinhan Bank. Danbi Kim is the representative franchise star of the team that has been active only at Shinhan Bank since its debut in 2008. Of course, the club had no choice but to take an emergency in the unexpected breakup with Kim Dan-bi. At the time, director Guna Dan said, “Actually, I was shocked. I tried to accept the news calmly after hearing the news through an article, but it wasn’t easy. But since I’m a professional, I respect (Kim) Danbi’s decision. told me,” he said.

The impact of Kim Dan-bi’s transfer was so strong that Han Eom-ji’s transfer was also regrettable from Shinhan Bank’s point of view. Han Eom-ji, whose first round of negotiations with Shinhan Bank failed, declared a new challenge by signing a contract with BNK for 4 years and an annual salary of 180 million won. Shinhan Bank, whose two key resources left the team, had no choice but to move more busily amidst the great shock.

the departure of key internal FA resources, Shinhan Bank has become in a position to minimize the power gap. First of all, they recruited a ball that was released from Hana One Q as a free agent. It was a marble that ended the season unfortunately due to a cruciate ligament rupture injury in the previous season, but it was a resource that could help the team enough if it regained its competitiveness before the injury. 

Another card that Shinhan Bank can reinforce is the nomination of a reward player. First of all, Woori Bank, which recruited Danbi Kim, succeeded in recruiting Sonia Kim as a reward player. Sonia Kim, who averaged 17.2 points and 16.8 points in the last two seasons at Woori Bank, was a resource that could fill the scoring gap caused by Kim Dan-bi’s departure. 

In addition, Shinhan Bank has minimized the power gap by recruiting Kim Jin-young from BNK as a compensation player. He made the best choice in the nomination of compensation players and minimized the power gap. Shinhan Bank also succeeded in renewing contracts with Lee Kyung-eun, Han Chae-jin, and Kim Tae-yeon. 

The task given to the newly born Shinhan Bank was ‘breathing’. Since most of the team’s core resources, including the ace, were replaced, the biggest challenge was to match the hands and feet of the existing players and the newly joined players. Even in the off-season field training in Japan, the top priority was to improve the breathing of the players. This is also a part that coach Gunadan consistently emphasized even after entering the full-fledged season. 

A season marked by many changes. Shinhan Bank’s first opponent was KB Stars. While concerns and hopes coexisted, Shinhan Bank captured the defending champion, KB Stars, after a close match that went on to the second overtime. Newcomers Sonia Kim (23 points) and Jinyoung Kim (19 points) performed very well and washed away concerns. 

However, after that, Shinhan Bank fell into three consecutive losses and was shaken. It was close to impossible to show off perfect performance in a short period of time. It was Shinhan Bank that escaped the losing streak by winning 66-47 in the match against Hana 1Q, which was the last match of the first round. 

There were times when it creaked, but Shinhan Bank did not collapse easily. He persevered, winning at least two victories in every round. Thanks to KB Stars and Hana 1Q showing serious sluggishness from the beginning of the season and forming a lower rank, they were able to consistently rank within the top 4. 

Shinhan

Bank, which focused on keeping pace throughout the season, started riding the trend after the All-Star break. In the game held immediately after the break, Shinhan Bank, which gained momentum by defeating Woori Bank 81-78, continued to add victories. 

Shinhan Bank showed off its fierce momentum by recording a whopping 7 wins and 1 loss in 8 matches played from the match against KB Stars on December 25th to the match against KB Stars on February 9th. In particular, the part that caught Woori Bank twice during this period was quite encouraging. 

Until the end of the season, a fierce battle for second place unfolded with Samsung Life Insurance and BNK. However, Shinhan Bank ended up in 4th place with a record of 1 win and 3 losses in the last 4 matches. Shinhan Bank’s playoff opponent was Woori Bank, which ranked first in the league with an overwhelming record.

Shinhan Bank had the experience of catching Woori Bank twice in the regular league, but the playoffs were another stage. Shinhan Bank, which entered the playoffs in a situation where an absolute inferiority was expected, lost the first game in Asan by 51-65, putting it in a disadvantageous position. 

Lee Kyung-eun showed off her good condition by scoring 15 points in the first game, but it was regrettable that Sonia Kim (8 points) and Kim Jin-young (9 points) remained silent. Shinhan Bank, which continued to play evenly until the first half, collapsed 8-18 in the third quarter and gave up the game. 

Shinhan Bank aimed for a counterattack in the second match held in their home room. This time, both Sonia Kim and Jinyoung Kim washed away the sluggishness of the first game. Sonia Kim recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Jinyoung Kim contributed with 17 points and 8 rebounds. However, it was disappointing that the rest of the players all stayed in single digits. In the end, Shinhan Bank finished the second game with a 58-70 defeat. 

In the final moments of the second leg, when the match was decided to some extent, a different scene was created. The players came out to help Han Chae-jin, who decided to retire after the season, scored the last goal. Although Han Chae-jin’s 3-point shot went off the rim, it was a scene where the respect for the veteran representing the league stood out. 

Kim Dan-bi of Woori Bank, who met her parents on the playoff stage, showed an all-weather performance of 23 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists in the first game, followed by 14 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in the second game. Also토토사이트, in the second game, Go Ara’s surprise performance, which recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds, was outstanding. 

Shinhan Bank’s playoff challenge was completed in two games. Following the last 2021-2022 season, Shinhan Bank was blocked by the wall of Woori Bank for the second year in a row. However, compared to a year ago when I recorded a disappointing defeat without even fighting properly due to the corona variable, this playoff series was a series with no regrets in that I played the opponent with normal power. In addition, Shinhan Bank overturned the evaluation of being underdog this time and succeeded in advancing to the playoffs and had a successful season. 

Team MVP | Sonia Kim
30G 34:07 18.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists This 

is Sonia Kim, who has received a lot of attention as a card that will save Shinhan Bank, which is in crisis due to Kim Dan-bi’s transfer. There was a slight difference in defense, but at least in attack, he was evaluated as the right person to fill the void of Kim Dan-bi. 

As expected, Sonia Kim led the team with amazing performances from the first season of transfer. He set a new career high by posting an average of 18.9 points. In addition, Sonia Kim added 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Thanks to Sonia Kim’s performance, Shinhan Bank was able to rise to the playoff stage again this time.  

Team RISING STAR | Byun So
-jeong 20G 11:12 3.1 points 1.9 rebounds 0.3 assists 

Byun So-jeong wore a Shinhan Bank uniform in the 3rd overall in the 2021 WKBL new player selection. Appearing on the first team stage from his rookie season, he played an average of 8 minutes and 22 seconds, recording 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds.

His sophomore season further increased his chances. He appeared in a total of 20 games and his playing time also increased to an average of 11 minutes and 12 seconds. He is also Byun So-jeong, who performed well with an average of 3.1 points. Byun So-jeong, who is steadily growing, is worthy of being classified as Shinhan Bank’s future resource.