Photos courtesy of Thailand Volleyball Association
Bangkok, Thailand, February 21, 2021 – As title-holders Supreme Chonburi E-Tech recorded comfortable win, embattled Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC narrowly edged past 3BB Nakornnont in the Thailand Volleyball League 2020-2021 season at Nimibutr Gymnasium.
Supreme, defending and three-time champions which had captured the Asian Women’s Club title for two times in a row in 2017 and 2018, enjoyed a good run in the top-flight professional competition in Thailand after 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-19) blitz over RSU VC on Saturday.
The exceptional win has stretched the star-studded Supreme, which fielded many well-known Thailand national players including Wilavan Apinyapong, Pleumjit Thinkaow and Ajcharaporn Kongyot, to five wins against one loss to remain atop the overall standings.
Former four-time winners Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC, led by hard-hitting Chutchu-on Moksri, tall Chitaporn Kamlangmak and Turkish Yeliz Basa, struggled hard to beat 3BB Nakornnont, also strong with the likes of Pimpichaya Kokrum and Kattika Kaewpin, in hard-fought five-set thriller 25-20, 25-27, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13).
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC stayed in fourth place with 11 points from four wins against one loss, while 3BB Nakornnont came in fifth position with 9 points from three wins against three losses.
On Sunday, Diamond Food VC, which last Saturday handed reigning champions Supreme the first loss this season, fielded a strong lineup led by ace spiker Onuma Sittirak, Malika Kanthong and Sasipaporn Chanthavisoot. Despite putting up a brave fight, Khonkaen Star VC found the well-established Diamond Food too strong to go down in four sets 21-25, 18-25 25-22, 17-25.
The other match on the same day saw Proflex VC in great form to beat Samut Prakan in close four-setter 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20.
At the end of Week 5 encounters, Diamond Food are trailing in third place with 12 points from four wins against one loss, with Khonkaen Star in second with 12 points from four wins against two losses. Proflex came in sixth place overall, followed by RSU and winless Samut Prakan in the 7th and 8th places respectively.
In the men’s event, hot favourites Diamond Food and defending and six-time champions Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC are tied on top of the standings with 15 points from five straight wins, but the former became the only team in the tournament which have yet lost a set to their respective rivals.
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC, spearheaded by powerful Wanchai Tabwises, who landed the MVP Award in the previous season, and Sri Lankan Janitha Surath, had a little problems in brushing off Visakha in straight sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 on Saturday.
On the same day, Air Force produced an epic comeback win against Prince VC as the 2018-2019 champions lost the first two sets 18-25, 17-25 to take the remaining three 25-19, 25-23, 16-14.
The following day saw powerhouses Diamond Food, fielding former Thailand national team spikers Jirayu Raksakaew and Kittikun Sriuttawong, current national attackers Kantapat Koonmee and Kissada Nilsawai, and Brazilians Luiz Perotto and Andre Luiz Queiroz Franca, power past Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana in straight sets 25-15, 26-24, 25-20.
Phitsanulok VC also performed well to send winless Kasetsart VC packing 28-26, 25-12, 25-15.
At the end of Week 5, Air Force came in third place with 10 points from four wins against two losses. Phitsanulok, Prince and Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana finished fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively, while Visakha and Kasetsart ended the week in 7th and 8th places.
The midweek encounters will be held on Wednesday, February 24. Diamond Food are due to take on Kasetsart and Phitsanulok will challenge Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC in the men’s event, with Diamond Food playing Samut Prakan and Proflex going up against Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC in the women’s category.
RESULTS
Men
Saturday February 20
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC b Visakha 3-0 (25-21 25-20 25-19)
Air Force VC b Prince VC 3-2 (18-25 17-25 25-19 25-23 16-14)
Sunday, February 21
Diamond Food b Mor Asia Koh Kood Cabana 3-0 (25-15 26-24 25-20)
Phitsanulok VC b Kasetsart VC 3-0 (28-26 25-12 25-15)
Women
Saturday, February 20
Nakhon Ratchasima The Mall’s VC b 3BB Nakornnont 3-2 (25-20 25-27 21-25 25-20 15-13)
Supreme Chonburi E-Tech b RSU 3-0 (25-16 25-16 25-19)
Sunday, February 21
Diamond Food b Khonkaen Star 3-1 (25-21 25-18 22-25 25-17)
Proflex VC b Samut Prakan 3-1 (25-20 25-22 24-26 25-20)
Related links of AVC
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: https://twitter.com/avcvolley
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation