Photos courtesy of Vietcontent
PFU BlueCats became the first Japanese team ever to reach the final showdown after a 3-0 demolition of Binh Chung Thong Tin Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc in the do-or-die semifinal clash of the 14th VTV9-Binh Dien Cup International Women’s Volleyball Tournament at Buon Ma Thuot City Gym in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam on Thursday.
PFU made a clean sweep with 9 points in Pool A with convincing wins against hosts VTV Binh Dien Long An (3-1), Hoa Chat Duc Giang Lao Cai (3-0) and U20 Vietnam (3-0), while BCT TT Binh Phuoc finished second in Pool B after claiming 6 points from losing 2-3 to U20 Thailand in their first clash last Sunday, stunning defending champions Sichuan from China 3-2 and outplaying LPBank Ninh Binh 3-1.
Against Binh Phuoc on Thursday, PFU, winners at the Kurowashi Tournament in 2022/23 season and the second team from Japan after Tenri University in the 2015 edition, remained in their formidable lineup led by Cuban-born Melissa Valdes, who stands 185cm tall, Kisa Okuma and Aya Hosonuma.
The Vietnamese side were also strong offensively with the likes of Vietnam national team players who played in the gold-medal winning team at the AVC Challenge Cup for Women in Indonesia last year including Pham Thi Nguyet Anh, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh and setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh as well as Thai import middle-blocker Watchareeya Nuanjam.
With Aya Hosonuma producing lightning-fast spikes and Valdes attacking devastatingly, PFU comfortably clinched the first two sets with the similar margin 25-17, 25-17.
In the third set, Binh Phuoc, cheered on by a large crowd of home fans at the venue, fought back hard, with Pham Thi Hien on fire and Nguyen Thi Phuong coming off the fence during the first and second sets and joining the starting lineup in the third set to fire some good shots. Still, the Vietnam’s determined efforts did not bear fruits. PFU stayed in control, with Valdes and Miyu Kawazoe overcoming the Vietnamese stuff blocks to help the strong visitors close out the set 25-21 and match.
Melissa Valdes scored a match-high 20 points from 18 kills, one block and one ace for PFU, while Kisa Okuma and Aya Hosonuma distributed 13 and 12 points respectively. Vi Thi Nhu Quynh scored 11 points on the Binh Phuoc’s loss.
PFU stormed into the final showdown unbeaten to next face off against the winners between LPBank Ninh Binh and VTV Binh Dien Long An, which will contest the second semifinal encounter on Friday, to vie for the eventual title.
In the Classification Round of 5th-8th places earlier, Hoa Chat Duc Giang Lao Cai, third place in Pool A, battled it out with U20 Thailand, fourth place in Pool B which saw the former live up to the expectations to power past the younger Thais in comfortable straight sets 25-19, 25-13, 25-19.
As Duc Giang Lao Cai had three players who reached the double digits, the Thai team had none. Tran Thi Bich Thuy chipped in with 13 points from 10 kills, 2 blocks and one ace, while Tran Tu Linh and Kuttika Kaewpin kept good company to add 12 and 10 points respectively. Warisara Taseeloed led U20 Thailand with 9 points, all from her attacks.
The Thai team will fight it out with the losers between China’s Sichuan and U20 Vietnam, set to be held on Friday, in the 7th-8th place playoff. Duc Giang Lao Cai will next compete for the 5th place.
1ST-4TH STANDING
5TH-8TH STANDING
All MATCH RESULTS
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