Photos courtesy of Thailand Volleyball Association
Bangkok, Thailand, March 14, 2021 – Strong teams faced no issues in shutting out lower-ranked oppositions in the women’s event, as error-strewn Air Force VC suffered two consecutive losses in the men’s competition in the Thailand Volleyball League 2020-2021 season at Nimibutr Gymnasium on the weekend.
Two unbeaten teams, Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC and Diamond Food VC, and title-holders Supreme Chonburi E-Tech captured convincing wins over their respective rivals to claim three points apiece, with former four-time champions Nakhon Ratchasima surging ahead Diamond Food to top the women’s standing in the second week of the second stage of the Thailand’s top-flight professional volleyball league.
With tall and powerful Yeliz Basa and sensation Chutchu-on Moksri brilliantly orchestrating the team’s offence, Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC proved too strong for Proflex VC to overwhelm the unfancied rivals in a totally lop-sided battle 25-19, 25-11, 25-12 on Sunday.
Later on the same day, the star-studded Diamond Food, fielding a formidable lineup including highly-experienced setter Nootsara Tomkom, ace spiker Onuma Sittirak, veteran middle-blocker Malika Kanthong and fast attacker Jarasporn Bundasak, had a little problem in powering past the spirited 3BB Nakornnont, spearheaded by Pimpichaya Kokrum and Sineenart Phocharoen, in comeback 3-1 (27-29, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20) win.
Earlier on Saturday, defending and three-time champions Supreme, which suffered a surprise 1-3 loss to Nakhon Ratchasima in their second-leg opener on March 6, had a sea of attacking riches at their disposal in their match against Khonkaen Star VC.
Strengthened by super star spiker Pleumjit Thinkaow, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Wipawee Srithong and Sutadta Chueawulim, Supreme came out in full force to beat the lacklustre rivals in comfortable straight sets 25-13, 25-13, 25-21.
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC and Diamond Food VC remained undefeated to bag similar 9 points from three successive wins, but the former successfully overtook the latter to lead the six-team pack in the second leg.
First-leg winners Supreme had 3 points from one win against one loss to come in third place, with 3BB Nakornnont in fourth position with 3 points from one win against two losses. Khonkaen and Proflex had yet won a match in the second leg to be ranked 5th and 6th places respectively.
Going down three matches in a row, Khonkaen, led by former Thailand national players Kannikar Thipachote and Kaewkallaya Kamulthala, now have their backs against the wall. As only top four teams will make the cut for the final round, Khonkaen, which finished second in the previous season, have to give it all-out in the next match. However, a daunting task awaits them as they will next go up against Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC on March 20.
Proflex VC will next challenge Supreme in the mid-week match on March 17 before going up against 3BB Nakornnont on Sunday, March 21.
Meanwhile, Air Force VC, winners in the 2018-2019 season, fielded three Thailand national players, Mawin Maneewong, Phusit Phonarin and Anuchit Pakdeekaew, but found Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana a tough nut to crack. Prone to unforced mistakes, Air Force went down to the well-organised rivals in hard-fought five-setter 25-16, 18-25, 25-23, 22-25, 10-15 on Saturday.
Left-hander Phusit Phonarin became the backbone of Air Force as he chipped in with 33 points in a losing effort.
For Air Force, the disappointing loss was two in a row. In the mid-week encounter on March 10, they lost in straight sets to Phitsanulok VC. Air Force had only 3 points from one win against two losses to come in a distant 5th position in the men’s standings.
The other match saw reigning and six-time champions Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC, which kicked off the second-leg campaign with a stunning 1-3 loss to Diamond Food, struggle to beat Phitsanulok VC 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-22).
On Sunday, hot-favourites Diamond Food VC, led by Thailand national players Kantapat Koonmee and Kissada Nilsawai and Brazilians Luiz Perotto and Andre Luiz Queiroz Franca, proved too much for the hapless Prince VC after a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19) demolition of the rivals.
Diamond Food, the only team which have yet lost a match in the second leg, stayed atop the men’s standings with 6 points from two successive wins.
Phitsanulok had 5 points from two wins against one loss to come in second place, with Nakhon Ratchasima claiming 3 points from one win against one loss to finish third. Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana finished fourth with 3 points from one win against one loss. Air Force and Prince VC came in 5th and 6th places respectively.
RESULTS
Men
Saturday, March 13
Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana b Air Force VC 3-2 (16-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 15-10)
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC b Phitsanulok VC 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-22)
Sunday, March 14
Diamond Food VC b Prince VC 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-19)
Women
Saturday, March 13
Supreme Chonburi E-Tech b Khonkaen Star VC 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-21)
Sunday, March 14
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC b Proflex VC 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-12)
Diamond Food VC b 3BB Nakornnont 3-1 (27-29, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20)
MATCH SCHEDULE
Men
Wednesday, March 17
12pm: Diamond Food VC v Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana
3pm: Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC v Prince VC
Saturday, March 20
6pm: Diamond Food VC v Phitsanulok VC
Sunday, March 21
12pm: Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC v Air Force VC
3pm: Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana v Prince VC
Women
Wednesday, March 17
6pm: Supreme Chonburi E-Tech v Proflex VC
Saturday, March 20
12pm: Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC v Khonkaen Star VC
3pm: Diamond Food VC v Supreme Chonburi E-Tech
Sunday, March 21
6pm: 3BB Nakornnont v Proflex VC
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