Youth World No. 1 Yukiji Onishi Stalls Victory Wonder Dogs as Kim Yeon-koung Scolds Her Team

Outside hitter Yukiji Onishi, ranked No. 1 in the world among youth players, leads Shujitsu High School's attack against coach Kim Yeon-koung's Victory Wonder Dogs in the season-2 opener of MBC's Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung 2. As the Wonder Dogs make error after error, Kim loses patience with them.

A rematch a year on, this time at home

Shujitsu High School is the team that beat Victory Wonder Dogs in an away match in Japan last season, and the two sides now meet again, one year later, on the Wonder Dogs' home court. The match is the first of season 2 and is billed as a Korea-Japan showdown. Episode 2 airs on the 18th. Family members and home fans cheer the Wonder Dogs on as they seek revenge for the defeat. The preview puts the home setting, the season opener and the memory of the earlier loss together, and the focus of the broadcast is how the players perform on court.

Kim Yeon-koung and the players prepared so as not to repeat the defeat. They trained hard and built a detailed strategy. Kim analysed Shujitsu High School's weaknesses, upgraded the training equipment and assigned coaches for each position. This is Kim's first match in charge of the Wonder Dogs in season 2. The material released so far is a preview of the build-up and aftermath, not a match result, so whether the Wonder Dogs beat Shujitsu High School at home and avenged the loss will only be answered on air.

Shujitsu High School's defence and Onishi's attack

Once play begins, the Wonder Dogs have to break through Shujitsu High School's defence while also answering its attack. Shujitsu High School presses them with stubborn defence and unexpected strikes, and the Wonder Dogs struggle to take control of the match despite Kim's analysis and strategy. Shujitsu High School's quick movement, organised play and sharp attacks unsettle the Wonder Dogs players, and their repeated mistakes open a gap between the preparation and what happens on court. Onishi, the youth world No. 1, is at the centre of that attack. The players fail to respond properly to Shujitsu High School's speed, and the memory of the season-1 defeat comes back to them. The preview says it will also show how Kim steadies the team's mood during the match.

Kim's rebuke and a battle between the benches

As the errors pile up, Kim raises her voice on court. "Isn't this our home? What are you so nervous about, making such a fuss?!" she tells the wavering players during the match. The preview presents the outburst as an attempt to shake the players out of their tension and shrunken play, even though they are at home, and as a sharp word aimed at their performance. Kim leads the team with the match experience and analytical ability she built on the world stage, and in season 2 she points out the players' problems during matches and gives feedback. The preview does not show how the players performed after the remark or whether the Wonder Dogs turned the match around. The remainder and the result are to be shown in the broadcast.

The two coaches are also locked in a tactical duel. Kim and Shujitsu High School coach Miki Nishihata are not satisfied even when their teams score, and they trade sharp feedback with their players, giving instructions as the situation changes while watching the other side's movements. Kim prepared a strategy to exploit Shujitsu High School's weaknesses, and Nishihata leads her players against the Wonder Dogs' attack and response. Kim commands with the match experience and cool judgement she gained as a player. The coaches' friction and tactical contest add tension to the match on court.

Shujitsu High School's game management under Nishihata and Onishi, and what the Wonder Dogs do after Kim's rebuke, will be shown in the episode.

Episode 2 of MBC's Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung 2 airs at 9:10 p.m. on the 18th.

Read the original (Korean)