Cambodia set up final clash with Indonesia, the team they lost in straight sets earlier
Bangkok, Thailand, May 7, 2023 – Hosts Cambodia bounced back to beat Thailand with terrific comeback 3-2 win in the Sunday’s semifinals of the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to next go up against unbeaten Indonesia in their debut final showdown of the biennial regional multi-sport competition.
Cambodia’s magnificent come-from-behind 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-10 win in exhausting 133 minutes was another agony added to the old foes’ same wound. At the previous edition two years ago in Vietnam, the Cambodians also pulled off a hard-fought five-set win against Thailand in the third-place playoff clash.
More importantly, this great win has handed Cambodia an opportunity to fight for gold medal for the first time in 40 years. The country has never made it to the final before since they made debut in the SEA Games in Singapore in 1983. However, their best SEA Games performance came at the previous edition in 2021 when they picked up a well-earned bronze medal.
Cambodia, backed by the cheering home crowd of around 5,000 packing the Olympic Complex Indoor Main Hall in Phnom Penh, made a poor start in the Sunday’s semifinal clash against Thailand, former eight-time SEA Games champions and current world No.64, to go down to the well-organized rivals in the first two sets 18-25, 21-25.
After that, the host side shrugged off rust just in time and clawed their way back in the third set as they mixed the excellent offensive combinations from solid blocks by Ratanak Phol and Nimul Mouen with powerful attacks from Mom Koun and Sarun Pin to take the hard-fought set 25-21.
Their confidence boosted, Cambodia maintained their good show in the fourth set which they took the initial lead with a three-point clear at 16-13. As Thai nerves began to fray and became more prone to unforced mistakes, the Cambodians found their rhythm to win six back-to-back points to extend the lead to 22-13 and 16-24. Shortly after that, a serve from Napadet Bhinijdee went wide, handing the host side the set win 25-16.
In the tie-breaker, Cambodia, coached by Chinese Li Jun with assistant coach Cuban Berto Friol Barrios, remained in top form to stay in front with a four-point advantage at 8-4, thanks to their intensified defence and consistent play. As the host side were leading 9-6, Thailand bounced back gallantly, with veteran Kissada Nilsawai and Thanathat Taweerat joining forces to uncork powerful attacks.
Moments later, Thanathat gave the determined Thais a successful comeback as he carried out ace serves for 3 points in a row to help Thailand level it at 9-9. However, their delight was short-lived when Thailand still became more prone to unforced attacking mistakes. Cambodia went on their attacks and blocking spree to capture the decider 15-10, match and a final berth.
This victory made history for the Cambodians as they reached the final for the first time in the history of the SEA Games.
In the Monday’s showdown, hosts Cambodia set up final clash with hot favorites Indonesia, defending and consecutive two-time champions. The Indonesians had claimed the SEA Games title for 11 times and yet lost a set to their respective rivals in Phnom Penh. They had already beaten the host nation in straight sets in preliminary Pool A encounters.
Powered by star spiker Rivan Nurmulki, Indonesia struggled to beat Vietnam 30-28 in the hard-fought first set, but went on their fine form to respectively capture the second and third sets 25-19 and 25-18 for a straight-set win in the Sunday’s semifinal clash, regarded as the 31st SEA Games men’s volleyball final rematch.
In the classification round for 5th-9th places earlier, Philippines struggled hard to beat Malaysia in hard-fought five sets 25-19, 20-25, 25-21, 24-26, 17-15, while Singapore narrowly edged past Myanmar in closely-contested three sets 25-23, 27-25, 25-22.
On Monday, May 8, the final day of the men’s volleyball tournament of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, Myanmar will take on Malaysia in the 7th-8th place playoff match at 12pm local time, while Singapore and Philippines will fight it out for the 5th place at 2.30pm.
The bronze-medal match at 5pm sees Vietnam renew rivalry with Thailand, while hosts Cambodia look for revenge against reigning champions Indonesia, the team they had lost in straight sets earlier, in the final showdown at 7.30pm.
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