Osaka, Japan, May 12, 2025 – Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC recorded their first victory at the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League with a hard-fought 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 25-20) win over Taichung Bank of Chinese Taipei at Panasonic Arena on Monday.
Indonesian outside hitter Doni Haryono led the charge for Nakhon Ratchasima with 17 points, including 16 attacks and one ace. He received strong support from Mongolian middle blocker Tamiraa Khangal and Uzbek opposite Azizbek Kuchkorov, who added 12 points apiece. Despite the loss, Taichung Bank’s Wen Yi Kai delivered a match-high 18 points.
“This was a tough stretch of matches for us, but thankfully we were able to get the win today,” said Thai outside hitter Amorntep Khonhan, who contributed 10 points, including nine kills. “I served well, but I know it won’t always be like that. We’ve secured our place in the quarterfinals, and with two days of rest before the next round in Kyoto, we’ll keep learning and fight until the final whistle.”
Nakhon Ratchasima started strong, with Khangal and Doni finding their rhythm early in the match. The Thai team had previously beaten Taichung Bank in straight sets at the recent Win Streak Invitational Tournament in Chinese Taipei, and they showed similar dominance in the opening frame.
Taichung Bank, however, found their footing in the second set. Led by captain Chang Yu Chen and outside hitter Wen Yi Kai, they applied pressure with sharp attacks and solid defense. But Anurak Phanram’s clutch serving including two aces and a powerful spike from Kritsada Nilsawai helped Nakhon Ratchasima pull away and take a 2-0 lead.
The third set proved to be a turning point. Although Nakhon Ratchasima once again jumped out to an early lead behind Amorntep’s left-handed firepower, Taichung Bank fought back. Chang and Wen rallied the team, and after a thrilling back-and-forth finish, the Taiwanese side edged the set 28-26 to stay alive.
Nakhon Ratchasima responded in the fourth with renewed energy. Khangal returned to the court and impressed with a 6-point performance, supported by Amorntep’s consistent attacking and Azizbek’s speed at the net. While Chang and Tseng Mao Tsung tried to mount a comeback, the Thai side proved too strong.
Despite Tseng’s clever offense, a service error on match point sealed Taichung Bank’s 1-3 defeat.
With the win, Nakhon Ratchasima improved to 1-1 and moved to 4 points in the standings, enough to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinals. Taichung Bank now face a formidable challenge in their next match against two-time Asian Club champions Foolad Sirjan of Iran, which defeated the Thai team 3-2 earlier in the tournament. That match is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:05 a.m. local time.
Click the link below for match schedule, results and photos
https://asianvolleyball.net/new/2025-avc-mens-champions-league/
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
Mikasa Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.