Photos courtesy of Vietcontent
Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, August 2, 2024 – Thailand demolished Indonesia in comfortable straight sets, as Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen scored a match-high 27 points to lift Vietnam’s 3-1 win against Philippines on Day 1 of the 4th Women’s SEA V. League Week 1 at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here on Friday.
Current world No.14 and Asian champions Thailand, fielding a full-fledged squad which finished eighth at the recent VNL Finals on home soil, had no issues in brushing off Indonesia 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-11) in 67 minutes, while Vietnam, consecutive two-time AVC Challenge Cup champions which took historic bronze at this year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Philippines, struggled to beat the determined Philippines in hard-fought four-setter 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21 in exhausting 112 minutes.
The single round-robin competition of the two-leg SEA V. League kicked off on Friday at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium, which had already served as the battleground for the last year’s Week 1 encounters.
In the first match on Friday, Thailand, offensively strong with the likes of Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot, created a lot of problems to Indonesia in the opening set. Thanks to their exceptional offensive system orchestrated by Chatchu-On, Pimpichaya and Thatdao Nuekjang, Thailand dominated the whole set. Despite some powerful swings from opposite Purnama Arsela Nuari, the Thais managed to foil the rivals’ fightback attempts to take the easy first set 25-14.
Conceding one set, the Indonesians hit back with attacks from the 183cm-tall opposite Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri, helping the team remain hot on the strong rivals’ heels. After trailing closely with three points behind at 20-23, Indonesia maintained their poise and came up with aggression. However, Thailand were focused on what they had to do in each match and reached the set point 24-20 before an attack from Megawati went out wide, handing Thailand the second set 25-20.
The third set turned out to be one-way traffic as Thailand led from start to finish. Taking a commanding lead with 10-point clear at 21-11, the Thai team replaced Ajcharaporn with Sasipapron Janthawisut and she did not let teammates and head coach Nataphon Srisamutnak down with her brilliant form. She produced terrific jump serves to hand Thailand two aces in a row to move the team ahead 23-11. Sub-in Wimonrat Thanapan solidly blocked outside hitter Ratri Wulandari to bring the team to the match point 24-11 before another ace from Sasipapron entirely ended the Indonesian challenge for the Thailand’s 25-11 win.
Opposite Pimpichaya Kokram delivered 13 points, all in attack, for Thailand, while outside hitter Chatchu-On Moksri and skipper and middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang had productive shifts with 12 and 11 points respectively. Opposite Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri scored 12 points on the Indonesia’s loss.
Thailand dominated Indonesia in all elements including kills (36 to 32), blocks (9 to 1), aces (8 to 1) aside from benefiting from more opponent error (22 to 11).
Thailand will next take on Philippines, while Indonesia will go up against Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Vietnam, current world No.32, had two key players, skipper Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and powerful cannon Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, to be reckoned with in the three-day Week 1 phase. The 188cm-tall Bich Tuyen had emerged as the Best Scorer at the FIVB Challenger Cup following an aggregate 77 points she had tallied and the Best Attacker with 73 attack points earned at that event. However, their first match against the well-organized Philippines could not be that easy.
Vietnam, cheered by a large crowd of around 2,000 home crowds at the venue, took the hotly-contested first set 25-23, but with the 185cm-tall opposite Solomon Alyssa Jae on fire in attack, the Filipinas bounced back to snatch the thrilling second set 25-20.
The next two sets remained intense. However, with talented Bich Tuyen unleashing a series of powerful attacks, Vietnam proved a cut above the opponents, as despite putting up a brave fightback, the Filipinas could not keep their rhythm until the end. The Vietnamese won the third and fourth sets 25-22 and 25-21 and match.
Opposite Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen had a strong performance in this match, leaving the court with a match-high 27 points from 25 kills and 2 blocks. She was the only Vietnamese player to get to double digits in scoring.
Philippines had five players who reached double digits, with opposite Solomon Alyssa Jae leading the team with 20 points, all in attack. Middle blocker Dell Palomata and outside hitter Ejiya Laure contributed 14 and 13 points respectively, while Vanessa Gandler and Thea Allison Gagate added 12 points apiece.
At the end of the first day, Thailand went atop the four-team standing with 3 points from a straight-set win, while Vietnam came in second place with 3 points from a four-set triumph. Philippines and Indonesia lost one match apiece to trail in third and fourth places respectively.
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