Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, April 25, 2023 – The 193cm-tall Tran Thi Thanh Thuy was in incredible form on Tuesday as the Vietnamese star spiker scored a match high 39 points in Sport Center 1’s hard-fought 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10) victory against Paykan in the grueling 129-minute clash in the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here.
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who currently plays for PFU Blue Cats in the Japanese League Division 1, had 35 attack points, two blocks and two aces, while Mahsa Kadkhoda contributed 21 points including 16 attacks and three blocks for Paykan.
It was a close match from the beginning as both sides poured everything to win the first set, but Paykan, champions of Iran Women’s Premier League at the 2022/23 season, made a strong start, with opposite Mona Ashofteh attacking aggressively to put her team in front 7-4.
Backed by the home-crowd supports at the packed venue, Sport Center 1, fielding all Vietnam national players in their preparation for the next month’s 32nd Southeast (SEA) Games in Cambodia, gradually pulled their game together. Powerful outside hitter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy gave the host side a comeback as she fired many thundering attacks to help her team level at 8-8. Sport Center 1 went on their remarkable form to widen the margin to 15-11. Everything seemed to be working for the Vietnamese side in the first set as they kept widening the gap.
Still, Paykan proved well their victory in the Premier League back home was no fluke and they bounced back heavily. As Sport Center 1 delighted their cheerful home fans with spiking spree to advance to 23-17, the visitors started to produce the goods. Middle blocker Pouran Zare fired fast spikes, Zahra Moghani carried out solid blocks and outside hitter Fatemeh Amini and opposite Mona Ashofteh uncorked some powerful attacks to help the Iranian team reduce the gap at 21-24.
During the crucial moment, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy made an erratic spike, giving the Iranians another chance to come back. As Sport Center 1 held 24-22 advantage, Thanh Thuy made amends for the mistake she made a moment earlier, attacking devastatingly for the team’s hard-fought 25-22 win.
The second set gave Paykan a better chance of their successful comeback. The Iranians came up with markedly improved performance, with Fatemeh and Mona hammering powerful attacks to help Paykan lead 8-3 and extend it to 18-14. Sport Center 1 clawed their way back to narrow the gap 20-22, but the rivals still had enough to hold them off. As Thanh Thuy produced a beautiful drop shot to give Sport Center 1 another breath for the reduced 21-23 margin, Zahra Moghani fired a sharp spike to bring in set point at 24-21 before an aggressive spike from Thanh Thuy went wide. Paykan clinched the second set 25-21 to level it at 1-1.
Paykan still played confidently with consistency in the second set, which saw them gain the upper hand to lead with a three-point clear at 7-4, but their advantage did not last long. Sport Center 1 regrouped and hit back with spectacular attacks from Thanh Thuy and middle blocker Ly Thi Luyen’s fast spikes to widen it to 14-8 and 21-15. Leading 23-18, Sport Center 1 did not look back. Thanh Thuy delivered the set point for host side with her attack and shortly after that produced a two-handed set shot to the back court which went unanswered. The Vietnamese side snatched the third set for a commanding 2-1 lead.
In the fourth set, Paykan gathered their courage and stormed back with aggressive attacks and intensified defence, allowing the host side tough time scoring. The Iranians led narrowly 13-12 and extended it to 19-14, courtesy of their good teamwork and great play. However, to the Iranians’ surprise, Sport Center 1 chased from trailing 18-21 to even it at 22-22. Still, the Iranians proved how far they had come, scoring three points in a row to win the tough set 25-22.
The do-or-die tie-breaker was very tight with both sides fighting it all out to win the crucial set and match. Paykan played their best to lead 5-3, but Sport Center 1, cheered on by home fans, never gave up easily. Thanh Thuy and Ly Thi Luyen joined forces to level it at 8-8 and as the Vietnamese side flexed their muscles to take the lead with a four-point advantage at 13-9, Thanh Thuy hammered the overpass kill to deliver the set point for Sport Center 1. However, Pouran Zare attacked powerfully to save one match point for Paykan before another attack from Thanh Thuy went unanswered. The Vietnamese took the tie-break win 15-10 and match.
After the match, Paykan head coach Fateme Rashidi said, “I would like to congratulate Sport Center 1 on their great performance today and the great support from their fans. I think we should win the fifth set, but because my players don’t have enough experience while competing in close game. I hope my team can win the next match.”
Despite the win, Sport Center 1 head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet was not happy. “The result of my team did not please me. However, it was just because we are not playing in full team. Some key players are missing. Also, the warm up session was too short for my team due to the opening ceremony. I think the key to our comeback in the fifth set is Thanh Thuy. She played exceptionally well.”
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