Photos courtesy of Vietcontent
Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, August 4, 2024 – Perennial SEA Games champions Thailand struggled hard to put it past determined hosts and long-time archrivals Vietnam in epic tie-breaker to stamp their domination over the 4th SEA V. League First Leg at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here on Sunday night.
The hard-fought 3-2 (25-18, 27-29, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13) win in exhausting 159 minutes at the packed venue handed Thailand a clean sweep in the single round-robin competition in Vinh Phuc.
Thailand and Vietnam had already pulled off two wins in succession in the three-day event and the confrontation between them on Sunday proved to be a decisive match and the final showdown to determine the eventual winners of the First Leg.
Thailand, current world No.14, defending and three-time Asian champions, brought their best players to the court at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium, where they powered past hosts Vietnam for their First Leg supremacy at the previous edition last year, and their star-studded squad including Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Hattaya Bamrungsuk and Thatdao Nuekjang led Thailand to flawless start in the first two matches with 3-0 against Indonesia and the Philippines.
As Thailand, consecutive 14-time SEA Games winners, fielded a fully-fledged team, hosts Vietnam, consecutive two-time AVC Challenge Cup and historic bronze medallists at this year’s FIVB Challenger Cup, were also strong offensively with the likes of prolific outside hitter and skipper Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and powerful opposite Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, 188cm tall, who emerged as Best Scorer and Best Attacker at the recent FIVB Challenger Cup in the Philippines.
Thailand mixed the offensive mobility of powerful attacks from Chatchu-On, Pimpichaya and Ajcharaporn and solid blocks from Chatchu-On, Hattaya and Thatdao to take the comfortable first set 25-18. Vietnam’s key player and team captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy did not make her mark and was sidelined since then. Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen stepped up as the main weapon to lead the team’s offense.
Conceding one set, Vietnam regrouped and roared back mightily, making the next two sets more thrilling and hotly-contested. Their serving was really good and their blocking and defense created a lot of problems to Thailand.
In the second set, Chatchu-On’s block-out kill put Thailand in the narrow lead 24-23, but Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen’s back-row attack saved the day for Vietnam. Leads changed hands for a few moments and after leveling at 27-27, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen produced an effective drop to bring the set point to Vietnam at 28-27 before sub-in Dinh Thi Tra Giang carried out an ace serve for the team’s hard-fought 29-27 win.
Both sides played neck and neck in the third set, but after 20-all, Thailand became more prone to unforced mistakes and Vietnam seized the chance to penetrate the Thai defence with their exceptional attacks from Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh and Tran Tu Linh. Vietnam clinched the thrilling third set 25-23, leaving boisterous fans to erupt in applause and jubilation.
The commanding 2-1 lead moved Vietnam a step closer to beating Thailand for the first time since they first met in the 2001 SEA Games final. However, things turned sour for the hosts side.
Chatchu-On had a solid performance in the fourth set which included a solo blocking against a powerful attack from Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen. Chatchu-On was instrumental in lifting Thailand’s lead with a five-point clear at 22-17.
As the Vietnamese opposite carried out an ace serve to help narrow the margin 21-23, Chatchu-On overpowered the blockers with her great attack for the set point 24-21 and Ajcharaporn closed out the set for Thailand with her thundering cross-court attack. The strong visitors took the crucial set 25-21, forcing a tie-breaker.
The decider became a see-saw affair as leads went back and forth until Thailand found their rhythm to move ahead 12-10. However, the Thai team lost their nerves to momentarily suffer a setback and lost three points in a row, leaving the home fans to come to life again. Still, their delight did not last long as Chatchu-On leveled it at 13-13, thanks to her aggression at the net. Thailand managed to keep their edge until the end with Pimpichaya and Ajcharaporn scoring the last two points for the team’s eventual 15-13 win.
Chatchu-On Moksri delivered 29 points from 25 kills, 3 blocks and one ace for Thailand, while Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot kept good company to contribute 22 and 17 points. Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen scored a match-high 41 points from 39 kills, one block and one ace on the Vietnam’s loss.
Thailand dominated in kills (80 to 68), blocks (11 to 8) and benefitted from more opponent errors (22 to 21). Vietnam fared better in aces (9 to 2).
Earlier, Philippines, which finished seventh at the FIVB Challenger Cup on home soil, managed a 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-21) shutout of Indonesia in 127 minutes.
Middle blocker Alyssa Jae Solomon was the Philippines’ most productive player with 16 points from 14 kills, one block and one ace.
Opposite Purnama Arsela Nuari chipped in 22 points including 19 attacks from 38 attempts for Indonesia. Fellow opposite Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri added another 18 points.
After three days of the single round-robin competition, Thailand topped the charge with 8 points from three straight wins, followed by Vietnam with 7 points from two wins against one loss. Philippines came in third position with 3 points from one win against two losses, with winless Indonesia in fourth place with no point earned.
Thailand captured gold medal, while Vietnam picked up silver and the Philippines bronze medals.
All four teams will now travel to Thailand for the Second Leg campaign, which is set to be held from August 9 to 11 at the 5,000-seater Chartchai Hall inside Chalerm Phrakiart Sports Complex in Nakhon Ratchasima.
POOL RANKING
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
FINAL RANKING
1 Thailand
2 Vietnam
3 Philippines
4 Indonesia
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