Quang Ninh, Vietnam, May 19, 2022 – Formidable Vietnam recovered from a slow first-set start to see off Philippines in thrilling three-setter 25-23, 25-19, 25-17 to set up final rematch with perennial champions Thailand in the 31st Southeast Asian Games Volleyball Tournament at Quang Ninh Gymnasium on Thursday.
Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh scored a match-high 19 points including 17 attacks from 30 attempts for the host side, assisted by powerful Tran Thi Thanh Thuy with 16 points including 12 attacks and team-leading 3 aces. Alyja Daphne Santiago led Philippines with 10 points including 9 attack. Frances Xinia Molina and Katrina Mae Tolentino kept good company to add 9 and 8 points respectively for the team.
Ahead of the match, Vietnam looked set to advance to the final as the host team had already claimed 6 points from two wins against one loss in the single round-robin preliminaries to come in second place to Thailand. Indonesia also had 6 points with two wins against two losses, but had completed their campaign in the preliminaries. Philippines collected only 3 points from one win against two losses.
As expected, Vietnam proved much stronger to win this closely-contested encounter and they eventually celebrated their straight-set victory against Philippines to go up against old foes Thailand in the showdown, the 10th time the two teams will test their mettle in the final together at the SEA Games. Thailand had beaten them all in the previous 9 finals including the straight-set win at the 2019 SEA Games final in the Philippines. Vietnam made their debut final at the 2001 SEA Games in Malaysia, where they also went down to the stronger Thais in comfortable straight sets.
To contest the rematch with Thailand, fielding young bloods led by Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Chatchu-on Moksri and Pimpichaya Kokram, Vietnam also proved they are one of the strong teams to be reckoned with in this year’s SEA Games as they beat all opponents, only losing a hotly-contested 1-3 encounter against Thailand in their first meet in the round-robin preliminaries.
In their last preliminary match against Philippines on Thursday, Vietnam trailed the visitors all the way in the first set. Leading commandingly with a two-point clear at 22-20, the Philippines battled hard to end the rivals’ challenge, but the host side counter-attacked well to successfully catch up with the Fillipinas at 22-all and they went on to seal the deal 25-23 and match.
As Vietnam, finishing second place after preliminaries, will go up against pacesetters Thailand in the final rematch on Sunday, Philippines, fourth place after the preliminaries, and third-place Indonesia will fight it out in the third-place playoff for bronze medal on Saturday.
Earlier, Philippines, silver medallists at the previous Games on their home soil, proved too strong for Malaysia to shut out the lower-ranked sides in a totally lopsided battle 25-12, 25-13, 25-12, which decided the seventh position for the losing team.
Joshua Umandal topscored with 9 points including 6 attacks for Philippines, while Marck Jesus Espejo and Ysrael Wilson Marasigan added with 7 points apiece. Ranjit Ramu led Malaysia with 8 points.
Following the comfortable win, Philippines will next go up against Myanmar in the 5th-6th place playoff on Friday, while Malaysia completed their SEA Games campaign with the 7th position.
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