Exuberant Southeast Asian teams made their marks on Day 5 of the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Taipei, with Vietnam stunning hosts Chinese Taipei to reach semifinals and Indonesia and Thailand pulled off convincing straight-set wins against respective Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, China to set up highly-anticipated clash in Ranking Round 1-6.
Top two teams from each pool, 12 in total, had been drawn for their Classification Round 1-12, in which participating teams competed in a single elimination bracket format on Wednesday.
World No.79 Bahrain emerged as the first team to secure their berth in Top 6 following their 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) demolition of Philippines at University of Taipei Hall.
No player from both sides scored double-digit marker in this match. Mahmood, Mohamed Abdulla Yagoob and Naser Anan scored 9 points apiece for Bahrain, while Joshua Umandal led Philippines with 9 points on the team’s loss.
The clash between Australia and Macao, China turned out to be one-way traffic as the world No.37, which had already competed in the FIVB Volleyball Nations Leagues for three times in 2018, 2019 and 2021, overwhelmed the smaller-built opponents in a completely one-sided affair 25-10, 25-13, 25-8 in 59 minutes.
Aussies, whose height average is 198cm against the rivals’ 179cm, utilized their height advantage to attack powerfully and block effectively through the easy match.
Opposite hitter Hamish Hazelden chipped in with 17 points for Australia, while Leong Ka Him led Macao, China with 8 points.
The crucial match between hot fourites Korea, current world No.30 and third place at the last year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Seoul, and Mongolia saw the winning team through to the semifinals due to the late withdrawal of some teams which affected drawing of lots earlier.
Korea, spearheaded by promising Heo Subong, outplayed the fighting Mongolians in straight sets 25-16, 25-21, 25-20 at University of Taipei Hall to remain unbeaten in this intense competition and make it through to the semifinals.
Heo Subong registered a match-high 20 points from 17 attacks and 3 aces, while Batsuuri Battur bagged 12 points on the Mongolia’s loss.
Korea will have a rest day on Thursday and next take on the winners in the match between Bahrain and Australia in the Friday’s semifinal clash.
Meanwhile, Thailand, former consecutive four-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games winners and world No.64, produced comeback 3-1 (15-25, 25-8, 25-22, 25-11) win against Hong Kong, China at Taipei Gym to reach Top 6 on Wednesday.
Thanathat Thaweerat, Kissada Nilsawai and Anurak Phanram were instrumental in helping lift Thailand’s triumph, with Thanathat firing 18 points and the next two scoring 16 points apiece. Tam Chun Ho Damian led Hong Kong, China with 14 points from 12 attacks, one block and one ace.
On Thursday, Thailand will face off against Southeast Asian counterparts Indonesia in the Ranking Round 1-6. World No.66 Indonesia, which had won successive three-time South East Asian (SEA) Games titles to their name, pulled off sensational straight-set 30-28, 25-21, 25-15 win against world No.68 Kazakhstan at University of Taipei Hall on Wednesday.
Star spiker Rivan Nurmulki was on fire, overcoming the Kazakh blockers with his exceptional attacks to lead Indonesia with 20 points including 18 attacks.
Aibat Netalin topscored Kazakhstan with 9 points, while Damir Akimov and Askar Serik kept good company to add 8 and 7 points respectively on the team’s losing effort.
The day’s highlight was the Vietnam’s stunning win against Chinese Taipei. The Southeast Asian outfits on Wednesday performed exceptionally well to stun hosts and world No.44 Chinese Taipei in dramatic four-setter 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-15 to directly reach the semifinals.
Nguyen Ngọc Thuan and Tu Thanh Thuan took turns penetrating the hosts’ defence with spectacular attacks to hand Vietnam crucial 22 and 20 points respectively, while devastating left-handed Wu Tsung-Hsuan claimed 21 points from 17 attacks, 3 blocks and one ace on the Chinese Taipei’s upset loss.
Like Korea, Vietnam will have a rest day on Thursday and will challenge the winning team in the all-Southeast Asians clash between Indonesia and Thailand in the semifinals the following day.
On Thursday, the Ranking Round 1-6 sees Thailand take on Indonesia, with Bahrain challenging Australia.
In the Classification Round 7-12, Kazakhstan will meet Hong Kong China and Philippines face Macao, china. Sri Lanka will be pitted against Saudi Arabia in the Classification Round 13-15.
The semifinals will be held on Friday, with the finals taking place the following day. Only the eventual winners of this tournament will qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Doha, Qatar between July 26 and 30, opening up their opportunity to get promoted and compete in the 2024 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
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