Vanja Bukilic is considered more worthy of winning third round MVP than Megawati

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – The South Korean volleyball league or V-League season 2024/2025 has completed the third round. Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi and Vanja Bukilic from Red Sparks have a big chance of being most valuable player (MVP) in this round thanks to his neat performance which brought the Red Sparks to eight consecutive wins. Who is more worthy?

On Tuesday (31/12/2024), Red Sparks managed to beat IBK Industrial Bank of Korea with a set score of 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, and 25-21). Before the match started, both teams had the same points, namely 31 points from 11 wins and six losses. This victory brought Red Sparks to close the half of the season in third place in the standings with 34 points, leaving IBK Industrial Bank remaining in fourth position with 31 points.

Before achieving eight consecutive wins, the Red Sparks had a shaky start to the season, especially after suffering four consecutive defeats against two top teams, Hyundai E&C Hillstate and Pink Spiders. Dream of qualifying for the finals again playoffs like the previous season it looks heavier.

However, Red Sparks managed to recover, starting with a victory against GS Caltex on November 23 2024, until finally conquering IBK Industrial Bank of Korea on the last day of 2024. Megawati and Bukilic’s performance is increasingly mature, helped by setters Yom Hyesun who showed a stable game.

Fight for MVP Title
In the midst of the team’s dominance, attention is now focused on who will win the third round MVP title. Based on statistics, Megawati has an advantage with 155 points and an attack success rate of 52.76%. Megawati is the only player with an attack success rate above 50% in the women’s league. There are no foreign players with higher salaries than Megawati who can surpass her achievements.

Meanwhile, Vanja Bukilic from Serbia won 153 points, ranking 3rd overall or only two points behind Megawati, but her attack success rate was only 43.81%, far below Megawati. If you look at these statistics, Megawati will most likely win the third round MVP award. If successful, this will be his second MVP after previously getting the first round of MPV in the 2023/2024 season.

However, beyond those statistics, Vanja Bukilic also showed extraordinary consistency. Not only as an attacker with 153 points, but also in defensive ability with a level of efficiency receive at 34.48%, making him a versatile foreign player.

Megawati and Vanja Bukilic actually have the same position opposite hitter. However, because it is impossible to field two in one field oppositeRed Sparks coach Ko Hee-Jin finally decided to change Vanja Bukilic’s position to outside hitter.

Different from opposite hitter who is more focused on attacking, one outside hitter required to have more complete abilities, both in attack and defense. Vanja Bukilic turned out to be able to transform well into a person outside hitter.

Quoted from NaverWednesday (1/1/2025), coach Ko Hee-jin expressed his pride in the performance of the team and its two foreign players. However, when asked to choose MVP, he was slightly inclined towards Vanja Bukilic rather than Megawati. According to him, Vanja Bukilic’s contribution in matches against big teams, such as Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Pink Spiders, was very decisive. Not only from the attacking side, but also defensively.

“He played a key role in the wins against Hyundai E&C Hillstate and Pink Spiders,” said Ko Hee-jin.

Who deserves to win MVP? The voices of South Korean journalists will decide. Whether it is Megawati who is the only player with an attack success rate of more than 50% in the third round, or Vanja Bukilic who has emerged as a defensive player and outside hitter best in the V-League with Kim Yeon-koung?

Whoever wins the MVP title, Red Sparks remains the main highlight in the V-League this season with eight consecutive wins and is a candidate to win the 2024/2025 V-League.