Embattled Thailand survived a huge scare against AVC Challenge Cup winners Vietnam to stun the host side and cheering home fans jampacking the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium with terrific comeback win in their last match of the 3rd Southeast Asian Women’s Volleyball League (SEA V. League) First Leg in Vinh Phuc on Sunday.
The dramatic 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 28-26, 25-17) victory handed Thailand a clean sweep in the single round-robin tournament in Vietnam and remarkable unbeaten record in the SEA V. League (formerly known as Asean Grand Prix) history since the tournament inception in 2019.
Against hosts Vietnam, which also captured the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Championship under the Sport Center 1’s banner at this competition venue, Thailand fielded a formidable lineup including three star spikers Chatchu-On Moksri, Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Thatdao Nuekjang in the first set. Vietnam also remained offensively strong with the likes of sensation Tran Thi Thanh Thuy.
Cheered boisterously by over 3,200 home fans inside the competition venue, Vietnam got off to a great start, with Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Tran Tu Linh and Tran Thi Thanh Thuy joining forces in penetrating the Thai defence with their spectacular attacks to lead the team to an early lead with a six-point clear at 11-5.
Although Thailand were able to put their act back together and catch up at 21-21, that was as far as they could get in this set. Vietnam went on their good show to extend it to 24-21, allowing the strong visitors only one more point from sub-in Pimpichaya Kokram to clinch the opening set 25-22, much to the home fans’ delight.
The second set was initially dominated by Vietnam, with Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh and Tran Thi Thanh Thuy on fire in attack to put the team in front 10-6. However, brilliantly led by Chatchu-On and Ajcharaporn, the Thai side gradually wiped out their deficit to catch up the close rivals at 10-10. Both sides traded fierce attacks after that, but Thailand advanced 23-19, thanks to Sasipapron Janthawisut’s superb form including her powerful jump serves. A moment later, rising star Wimonrat Thanapan hit an overpass to hand Thailand a set point at 24-19, but a service mistake by Sasipaporn gave Vietnam a slim chance of comeback. Still, the hosts’ hope died fast as Pimpichaya landed a kill for the Thailand’s 25-20 win in the set.
The competition intensified in the third set as both sides traded points from the beginning to tie the score at 10-10, but Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh and Tran Tu Linh provided most of the ammunition in Vietnam’s attack, capped their stellar show by each hitting deadly cross-court spikes to help the host side move ahead 20-16. With Thailand defending solidly, Chatchu-On and Ajcharaporn put the team back on track with their exceptional attacks to level it at 23-23. From then, both teams locked horns once again with points swinging back and forth. At 26-26, Ajcharaporn hammered an off-the-block swing for Thailand’s 27-26 lead before an aggressive attack from Tran Thi Thanh Thuy went wide. Thailand took the hard-fought third set 28-26.
Holding 2-1 advantage, Thailand played exceptionally well in the fourth set to lead initially 9-6 before extending it to 21-14. Vietnam tried hard to pull their game together, but the Thais blunted their comeback attempts. As the host side became more prone to unforced mistakes, Thailand cruised on to win the set 25-17, match and the First Leg title.
Thailand dominated on the court for most of the duration of the game against Vietnam and outplayed the opponents on all point-scoring counts: 65 to 45 in successful spikes, 10 to 8 in kill blocks and 6 to 5 in serving aces, but the Vietnamese benefited from more opponent errors (30 to 19).
Chatchu-On Moksri powered the Thailand to dramatic victory with 24 points from 22 attacks, one block and one ace, with Ajcharaporn Kongyot adding another 20 points including 17 attacks from 41 attempts. Tran Tu Linh contributed 19 points including 16 attacks on the Vietnam’s loss, while Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh and Tran Thi Thanh Thuy added 13 and 10 points respectively.
Meanwhile, the match between Indonesia and Philippines earlier saw the AVC Challenge Cup silver medallists prove a class above Philippines, represented by National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs-laden national team, led by Mhicaela Belen, the UAAP Season 84 Rookie-MVP, and Alyssa Solomon, Best Opposite Spiker.
Indonesia fared better defensively and offensively to manage a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-21) shutout of Philippines.
At the end of three-day, round-robin tournament, Thailand topped the four-team standing with 9 points from three straight wins. Vietnam finished second with 6 points from two wins against one loss. Indonesia came in third place with 3 points from one win against two losses, with winless Philippines on the bottom fourth position.
All participating teams will travel to Thailand for the SEA V. League Second Leg at the 3,000-seater gymnasium inside the 700th Anniversary Chiang Mai Sports Complex in Chiang Mai, a northern city in Thailand, from August 11 to 13.
MATCH RESULTS
FINAL RANKING
CHAMPIONS – THAILAND
SILVER MEDAL – VIETNAM
BRONZE MEDAL: INDONESIA
FOURTH PLACE – PHILIPPINES
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
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