Bangkok, Thailand, December 21, 2020 – Sanest Khanh Hoa, powered by Ngo Van Kieu and Tu Thanh Thuan, underlined their supremacy over the Vietnam National Volleyball Championship in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa on Sunday night.
Sanest Khanh Hoa, the first Vietnamese team in history to finish top four in the Asian Men’s Club Championship in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar in 2018, pulled off a dramatic 3-1 (25-19 25-20 20-25 25-18) win against Hochiminh City in the final showdown to capture their third title after more than 10 years.
In the past six years, Hochiminh City and Sanest Khanh Hoa had met twice in the final match in 2015 and 2019, but the latter failed to make their mark in those two clashes. This victory this time was a sweet revenge for Sanest Khanh Hoa.
“Both teams are in the same level and have similar tactics. This time, I used serving as the key element in the final match, because we have good jump servers in Tu Thanh Thuan and Duong Van Tien. I believe both of them scored many aces or destroyed the rivals’ defense,” Sanest Khanh Hoa’s coach Thai Quang Lai was quoted as saying.
Actually, Sanest Khanh Hoa fielded key players including the 1.96m-tall attacker Ngo Van Kieu and the 1.98m blocker Pham Thai Hung. Talented Tran Xuan Tan also set the ball rolling in a harmonious way for Tu Thanh Thuan to “throw the bomb” at the opponents. So Sanest Khanh Hoa obviously dominated the game for convincing wins in the first two sets 25-19, 25-20.
In the third set, Hochiminh City adjusted their tactics and with the best effort and determination, they overcame difficulties to win the thrilling set 25-20.
However, Sanest Khanh Hoa regrouped to come up with an improved form in the fourth set. Tu Thanh Thuan and Ngo Van Kieu spearheaded majority of Sanest Khanh Hoa’s attacks to eventually help their team capture the set 25-18, the 3-1 match and gold medal.
Hochiminh City and Trang An Ninh Binh claimed silver and bronze medals respectively.
Top three finishers on the podium during the awards presentation in the women’s event.
The final women’s showdown between Thong tin Lienvietpostbank and Hoa Chat Duc Giang Ha Noi took place in Dac Lac on the same day.
This was the 13th time that Thong tin Lienvietpostbank played in the final match, but it was the first time ever that Hoa Chat Duc Giang Ha Noi came this far for a do-or-die opportunity. So, experience made the difference between the two teams.
Thong tin Lienvietpostbank played superbly, especially setter Linh Chi and middle blocker Bui Thi Nga, who put much difficulties to defenders of Hoa Chat Duc Giang Ha Noi. Thong tin Lienvietpostbank won the first two sets before Hoa Chat Duc Giang Ha Noi hit back to win the thrilling third set (29-27). Thong tin Lienvietpostbank went on powerful attacks to win the fourth set and the 3-1 match to land the title, their 13th overall.
Best Setter – Nguyen Linh Chi
Hoa Chat Duc Giang Ha Noi took silver medal for the first time, with Kinh Bac Bac Ninh claiming bronze, the similar medal they had won in the previous season.
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