Ninh Binh, Vietnam, August 8, 2025 – Thailand and Vietnam kicked off their Week 2 campaign of the 5th SEA V League Women’s Tournament with commanding straight-set victories at the Ninh Binh Provincial Gymnasium on Friday. Thailand, rotating their lineup, overpowered Indonesia, while hosts Vietnam held firm to see off a gritty challenge from the Philippines.
Fresh from their dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Vietnam in the Week 1 finale to lift the title at Terminal Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand opened their second-week campaign in style with a convincing 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-21) triumph against Indonesia. Meanwhile, AVC Nations Cup champions Vietnam delighted home fans with a solid 3-0 (25-14, 30-28, 25-22) victory over the Philippines.
Thailand, extending their regional dominance with their eighth consecutive win in the SEA V League since the tournament’s inception in 2019, opted for a fresh lineup featuring Kuttika Kaewpin, Sasipaporn Janthawisut, Thanacha Sooksod, and Wimonrat Thanapan. Indonesia, for their part, fielded powerful hitters such as Megawati Pertiwi Hangestri and Devega Ersandrina in an attempt to match the Thai firepower.
Sasipaporn and Kattika came out firing in the opening set, launching a series of explosive spikes that left the Indonesian defense reeling. Thailand surged ahead to a 17-10 lead and never looked back, clinching the opener with ease at 25-16.
The second set followed a similar pattern. Thailand raced to a 19-14 advantage, with Sasipaporn’s back-to-back points, one off a blistering spike and another from a well-placed serve, stretching the lead to 23-15. Megawati added a solitary point for Indonesia with an off-the-block kill, but the Thais shut the door quickly, wrapping up the set 25-16.
The third set was a tighter affair, with both teams going toe-to-toe in a neck-and-neck battle. Locked at 19-19, Thailand stepped on the gas and reached set point at 24-20. Indonesia mounted a late fightback, with Arsela Nuari Purnama breaking through the Thai blockers to keep her side alive. But Kuttika had the final say, hammering home a thundering spike to seal the set 25-21 and the match.
“It was a tough match, but we played with calmness and strong teamwork,” said Kuttika after the match. “We communicated well, which made a big difference. The third set was particularly challenging – fatigue may have been a factor. I still have areas to improve, but I’ll keep pushing to maintain my form and give it my all.”
In the second match, Vietnam made it back-to-back wins over the Philippines with a 3-0 (25-14, 30-28, 25-22) shutout, following their 3-1 win in Week 1 in Thailand.
After a slow start that led to a dominant first set 25-14 win for the host country, the Philippines stepped up in the second, forcing the home side to dig deep. Vietnam eventually edged the nerve-racking set 30-28.
In the third, Vietnam held a 19-15 lead before the Philippines mounted a 4-0 run, capitalizing on their opponents’ unforced errors to draw level. However, the hosts regrouped and pulled ahead 21-19. Opposite spiker Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh added a key point before more errors stalled the Philippines’ rally. A Vietnamese miscue briefly opened the door, but Vi Thi Nhu Quynh slammed the door shut with a decisive back-row attack to seal the victory.
The round-robin action continues Saturday, with hosts Vietnam facing Indonesia at 16:00 local time, followed by a much-anticipated clash between the Philippines and Thailand at 19:00.
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