“We play hard on defense and rebound. We also communicate with each other a lot.”
The 2024-2025 WKBL Asia Quarterly Player Draft was held on the afternoon of June 23 at the TKP Garden City Seminar Hall in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Each of the six WKBL clubs selected 12 players to fit into their teams.
With the fourth overall pick, Yongin Samsung Life selected Mitsuki Hirano (166 cm, G). Mitsuki played for the Toyota Antelopes from 2020 to 2024. He also appeared in the WKBL 3X3 Triple Jam in 2023.
“I would like to thank everyone who made this opportunity possible, and I would also like to thank the fans, my family, and my gifts who have supported me along the way. 파워볼사이트 As it’s my first time playing in the WKBL, I will work harder.”
Mitsuki came to Korea with her mind made up. Despite playing basketball in a foreign country for the first time, she quickly bonded with her teammates. She has put in a lot of effort to quickly integrate into the Samsung Life team.
“The facilities are great,” Mitsuki says. The weight room is well-equipped, and the cafeteria is right next to the gym. I can eat right after training,” Mitsuki said, adding that he is satisfied with the facilities at the Samsung Training Center (STC).
“When I joined Samsung Life, I was worried, ‘Will the players welcome me? Will I be able to get along with them?’ But from the first day I joined, the players were very friendly to me. The team as a whole is very cheerful, and my sisters are very friendly. There seems to be a good relationship between the players,” she said of her first impressions of the Samsung Life squad.
Mitsuki’s basketball skills are also highly praised by Samsung Life. In particular, her quick and relentless defense has impressed Samsung Life coach Ha Sang-yoon. Mitsuki’s strengths are in line with Samsung Life’s color of defense.
Meanwhile, Samsung Life also boasts a stable offense. Bae Hye-yoon (183 cm, C) and Lee Hae-ran (182 cm, F) can lead the big men, while Kang Yoo-rim (175 cm, F) is a shooter and can open up the offensive space. The backcourt lineup is also solid with Lee Ju-yeon (171 cm, G) and Kiana Smith (177 cm, G).
Mitsuki, who plays guard, is included in several backcourt combinations. If Mitsuki fits in positively with Samsung Life, the team can utilize her in a variety of ways. If that happens, Samsung Life will have another upgrade in power.
“I feel like I defend and rebound well,” Mitsuki says, ”and we talk a lot as a team. We seem to communicate well, and I need to play to my full potential to help the team win,” Mitsuki said, referring to both Samsung Life’s strengths and her role on the team.
Finally, he said, “The support of the fans gives me great strength. Please continue to support me. I will fight with Samsung Life fans next season,” he said. Meeting the Samsung Life fans for the first time made Mitsuki even more determined.