Day 4 Wrap Up
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, August 11, 2022 – Japan, Korea, Australia and hosts Thailand held the equivalent win/loss record to 1-1 and look set to give it all-out in Pool E on Friday to strive for semifinal spots, as formidable China put it past Pakistan in Pool F to become the only unbeaten team in their round of last eight teams in the 2022 AVC Cup for Men at the Nakhon Pathom Provincial Gymnasium.
The round of last eight teams started on Thursday, with top two teams from each pool in the round-robin preliminaries advancing to the round-robin Pool E and Pool F.
In Pool E, Australia, which went down in straight sets to Japan in their last preliminary Pool C match, still keep their semifinal hopes alive following their comeback 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 27-25) win against Thailand. The host side caused a major sensation in their Pool A clash against Korea after posting a fantastic comeback 3-2 win against the FIVB Challenger Cup bronze medallists on Tuesday.
The other encounter became the day’s highlight when Korea stopped the fired-up Japan’s unbeaten streak in this topflight tournament. However, the Koreans, strengthened by ace spiker Heo Subong and powerful hitter Na Gyeongbok, struggled in a hotly-contested clash to pull off a dramatic 3-2 (25-18, 27-25, 26-28, 21-25, 15-13) win against the Japan’s second-string B team.
With only top two teams advancing to the semifinals, Japan, Korea, Australia and Thailand had the similar performances with one win against one loss and as a result, the two winning teams in Pool E on Friday are quite certain of making the cut for the do-or-die semifinals.
On Friday, the last day of the round of last eight teams, hosts Thailand will go up against Japan, while Korea will battle it out with Australia.
In Pool F, mighty China, fresh from beating Chinese Taipei and Bahrain, moved a step closer to booking their semifinal berth as the world No.19 which finished 13th at this year’s VNL saw off Pakistan in thrilling straight sets 25-22, 25-17, 25-18 on Thursday.
Bahrain also made much of the impact when they caused a major upset to beat Iran, fielding their U20 squad in their preparation for the forthcoming Asian Men’s 20 Championship, in dramatic four sets 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18 apart from handing the tough rivals the first loss.
China are set to take on Iran in their last match of the round of the last eight team on Friday, while Bahrain will test their mettle against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, contesting their classification round for 9th-11 places in Pool G at second hall Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, India defeated spirited Hong Kong, China in close encounter 25-23, 25-21, 29-31, 27-25. The Indians on Friday are due to take on Chinese Taipei, fourth place at the last year’s Asian Championship.
MATCH RESULTS AND TEAM STANDING
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