Indonesia will play Philippines to vie for the third place
Thailand and long-time rivals Vietnam are set to face off on Sunday in their last encounter of the 3rd Southeast Asian Women’s Volleyball League (SEA V. League) Second Leg at the 3,000-seater gymnasium inside the Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Sports Complex in Chiang Mai in a renewed and intense rivalry between the two unbeaten teams to determine the eventual champions.
Both Thailand and Vietnam had made it two in succession in the three-day, round-robin tournament, with the former yet losing a set to their respective rivals and the latter beating Indonesia 3-0 and struggling in 3-1 rout of Philippines.
Thailand, current world No.15 and consecutive 14-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games winners, stayed atop the four-team standing with 6 points from two straight wins. Hot on the hosts’ heels are Vietnam, which also had 6 points from two wins in a row. However, due to the better sets ratio, Thailand captured the pole position. Philippines and Indonesia had yet won a match, but the former fared better with a 1-3 sets win/loss record to trail in third place.
On Sunday, Thailand will face off against Vietnam in a final rematch of the last week’s First Leg in Vinh Phuc. There, Thailand captured the crown following a 3-1 rout of Vietnam in front of a huge number of Vietnamese fans packing the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium.
Truly, Vietnam are looking forward to a revenge match against Thailand in Chiang Mai despite the fact that a daunting task awaits them. The Vietnamese side are not at their best due to the absence of many potential senior players in their team including star spiker Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who took the Best Outside Hitter in the First Leg in Vinh Phuc, Hoang Thị Kieu Trinh the Best Opposite Spiker, and Doan Thị Lam Oanh the Best Setter.
Regarding Thailand, they are playing at home with a fantastic support of home fans. The host side had also shuffled their lineup in every set they had competed in the First Leg and Second Leg of the 3rd SEA V. League with aims of improving team productivity and building a high-performing team.
Therefore, Vietnam are expected to find it very difficult on Sunday to read the Thai game and have a dim chance of avenging the First-Leg loss to Thailand.
On Saturday, Vietnam, strengthened by Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, who was the most productive player in the team with 18 points in their match against Indonesia the previous day, clinched the comfortable first set 25-19.
Going down one set, Philippines bounced back gallantly in the second set, with the 183cm Alyssa Solomon blocking effectively to score three points in succession to help the team level it at 20-20. Philippines stormed on their fine form, with Mhicaela Belen, the UAAP Season 84 Rookie-MVP, on fire to put Philippines in front 24-23, needing only one more point to take the set. However, Vietnam did not give up easily and hit back in a see-saw battle. Filipinas fared better to bag the well-fought set 27-25.
The third set was more thrilling when Philippines started solidly to take an early lead with a six-point clear at 12-6 before Vi Thi Nhu Quynh brought Vietnam back on track with her exceptional attacks to help level it at 16-16. From then, both sides played neck and neck until a serve from Solomon went wide, handing Vietnam a set point at 24-23. Still, Philippines played cool under pressure and their attempts paid off with leads changing hands for several times. Finally, Vietnam claimed two straight points to win the hotly-contested set 31-29 for a 2-1 lead.
Vietnam played more comfortably in the fourth set to lead from the beginning to finish, wrapping up the easy set 25-14 to eventually end the Philippines’ determined challenge.
In the second match in front of over 3,000 home fans, Thailand head coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul sticked to his similar game plan of fielding every player in the team to gain valuable competition experience and composure in the SEA V. League, regarded as the Thailand’s tune-up matches in their preparation for three major competitions later this year including the 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship on home soil in Nakhon Ratchasima and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualification Tournament Pool C in Lodz, Poland.
Against the AVC Challenge Cup silver medallists Indonesia, Thailand fielded a formidable lineup in the first set consisting of Thatdao Nuekjang, Pimpichaya Kokram, Chatchu-on Moksri, Amornrat Thanapan and setter Pornpun Guedpard, while Indonesia were spearheaded by Hany Budiati, who emerged as the team’s topscorer in the previous match against Vietnam.
Hard-hitting Ratri Wulandari, Siti Nur Fadhilah Wilda and Agustina Wulandhari also became the backbone of the team.
The opening set turned out to be a close battle as both teams fought tooth and nail to win the set, with neither side leading with a two-point gap. Levelling 21-21, Thailand stayed in control until a Pimpichaya’s back-row attack put the team ahead 24-22. The host side allowed the Indonesians one more point from an aggressive spike from Dara Putri Salsabila before Pimpichaya came from behind to overcome the blockers with her powerful attack for the Thailand’s hard-fought 25-23 win.
The second set was a similar script as the first one, with both teams battling hard to see the score tied 11-11. After that, Sasipapron Janthawisut joined forces with Pimpichaya, with the former producing powerful jump serves and great attacks to help Thailand advance 24-16.
However, the Indonesians were never-say-die and counter-attacked well to save four set points including the last two points from Suci Nurfadila Aulia’s effective blocking and powerful attack. Sasipapron fired a thundering attack which went without responding to help the host team take the thrilling set 25-20.
In the third set, Thailand led from the beginning 4-1, extended it to 18-14 and 23-16, making use of exceptional attacks from star spiker Chatchu-on and talented Natthima Kubkaew. Indonesia tried hard to come back, but the Thais maintained their momentum. Ajcharaporn Kongyot handed Thailand one crucial point on her attack and followed up with another point on her successive blocking for the team’s 25-16 win.
As Thailand will face off against Vietnam in their last match on Sunday to determine the eventual champions of the 3rd SEA V. League Second Leg in Chiang Mai, Indonesia and Philippines will also battle it out for the third place and bronze medal.
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