GS Caltex, the champions of the 2025-2026 V League women's division, lifted the cup trophy after defeating Korea Expressway Corporation.
On October 18, GS Caltex triumphed over Korea Expressway Corporation with a set score of 3-2 (25-23, 26-28, 18-25, 25-22, 15-5) in the final of the 2026 Yeosu & NH Nonghyup Cup Pro Volleyball Tournament held at Jin Nam Gymnasium in Yeosu, Jeonnam.
This victory marks GS Caltex's return to the top of the cup tournament after three years, achieving their seventh cup title, the most in women's division history, further extending their lead over second-place Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which has five titles.
Having defeated Korea Expressway Corporation in last season's championship match, GS Caltex's success in this pre-season tournament boosts expectations for the upcoming regular season.
On the other hand, Korea Expressway Corporation, aiming for their first cup title since 2011, fell short once again, finishing as runners-up for the second consecutive year and setting a record for the most runner-up finishes at seven.
The standout performer for GS Caltex was Giselle Silva, who scored a team-high 30 points, including three service aces and two blocks.
Silva received overwhelming support in the MVP voting, earning 28 out of 34 votes, marking her first cup tournament MVP award after being named MVP in both the regular season and championship match last season.
Kwon Min-ji also contributed significantly, recording a team-high attack success rate of 62.86% with 24 points. Asian quota player Tanacha Suksoot added 19 points.
Korea Expressway Corporation's star player, Leticia Moma Basoko, despite battling knee pain, scored a match-high 31 points but could not secure a win for her team. The performance of local ace Kang So-hwi, who managed only six points with an attack success rate of 23.81%, was a disappointment.
In the rematch of last season's championship, GS Caltex started strong, taking the lead after a tie at 23-23 with consecutive points from Tanacha and Silva.
However, GS Caltex failed to capitalize on a set point at 24-23 in the second set, leading to a deuce and ultimately losing the set 26-28.
After losing momentum, GS Caltex struggled in the third set, committing eight errors and losing 18-25, allowing Korea Expressway Corporation to take a 2-1 lead in sets.
GS Caltex regained their focus in the fourth set, with Kwon Min-ji's diagonal attack at 17-16 boosting their momentum. They won the fourth set 25-22, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the fifth set, Silva's serves proved crucial. GS Caltex led 4-2 and then scored three consecutive points following a strong serve from Silva. They quickly extended their lead to 7-2 and finished the match decisively at 15-5, sealing their victory.
The women's schedule of the 2026 KOVO Cup concludes, with the men's group stage set to begin at the same venue on October 19.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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