Dong Ha, Vietnam, March 29, 2015 – DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club stamped their domination over the 9th VTV Binh Dien Cup International Women’s Volleyball Tournament after pulling off a stunning 3-1 (25-23 18-25 25-23 25-21) victory over Vietnam’s Thong Tin Lien Viet Post Bank in the final showdown at Quang Tri Competition Hall here on Sunday.
The 4.25 Sports Club did not lose a match en route to the final clash against Thong Tin LVPB, which were strengthened by Vietnam national players including Bui Thi Nga and Do Thi Minh. After going down the closely-contested first set 23-25, the host side, cheered on by a large crowd of home fans at the venue, regrouped and played much better in the second set. Thong Tin LVPB captured the set 25-18 for a 1-1 draw.
However, the 4.25 Sports Club produced a consistent play, with powerful Jong Jin Sim puncturing the Vietnamese defence with her exceptional spikes. The strong visitors rolled on their terrific performance to win the third and the fourth sets 25-23 25-21 and the championship.
Earlier in the semi-finals on Saturday, Pool A winners 4.25 Sports Club proved too strong for Astana Club to thrash the Kazakh counterparts in straight sets 25-19 25-18 25-20. Jong Jin Sim scored a match-high 28 points including 23 devastating attacks and three stuff blocks. Natalia Kulikova scored the highest 10 points for Astana Club, seven of them through aggressive spikes.
Unlike the Korean team, Pool B winners Thong Tin LVPB struggled hard to beat VTV Binh Dien Long An in the all-Vietnamese semi-final clash, coming from behind to capture the see-saw battle 24-26 25-20 23-25 25-19 15-13 in gruelling 135 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the third-place playoff on Sunday, Astana Club from Kazakhstan played a tough match against VTV Binh Dien Long An, powered by former Vietnam national spiker Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, to cruise past the Vietnamese side 3-1 (25-23 22-25 25-22 25-18). Irina Shenberger topscored 23 points for Astana Club, with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy scoring the highest 17 points for VTV Binh Dien Long An.
The other playoffs saw Vietinbank Club take the fifth position after brushing off China’s Fujian Club in entertaining four sets 25-12 22-25 25-16 32-30 and Vietnam’s Tien Nong Thanh Hoa gun down Japan’s Tenri Club 3-1 (26-24 25-11 21-25 25-22) to claim the seventh place.
March 28 Results
5-8 playoffs: Vietinbank Club (Vietnam) b Tenri Club (Japan) 3-0 (25-11 25-14 25-15); Fujian Club (China) bTien Nong Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) 3-1 (25-15 25-20 20-25 25-18)
Semi-finals: 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) b Astana Club (Kazakhstan) 3-0 (25-19 25-18 25-20; Thong Tin Lien Viet Post Bank (Vietnam) b VTV Bin Dien Long An (Vietnam) 3-2 (24-26 25-20 23-25 25-19 15-13)
March 29 Final results
7-8 playoff: Tien Nong Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) b Tenri Club (Japan) 3-1 (26-24 25-11 21-25 25-22)
5-6 playoff: Vietinbank Club (Vietnam) b Fujian Club (China) 25-12 22-25 25-16 32-30)
Third-play playoff: Astana Club (Kazakhstan) b VTV Binh Dien Long An (Vietnam) 3-1 (25-23 22-25 25-22 25-18)
Championship match: 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) b Thong Tin LVPB 3-1 (25-23 18-25 25-23 25-21)
Final rankings
1. 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea)
2. Thong Tin Lien Viet Post Bank (Vietnam)
3. Astana Club (Kazakhstan)
4. VTV Binh Dien Long An (Vietnam)
5. Vietinbank Club (Vietnam)
6. Fujian Club (China)
7. Tien Nong Thanh Hoa (Vietnam)
8. Tenri Club (Japan)
9. Malaysia
Stylist Prize: Tenri Club (Japan)
Encouragement Prize: Vietinbank (Vietnam)
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Jong Jin Sim (4.25 Sports Club)
Best Outside Spiker: Jong Jin Sim (4.25 Sports Club)
Best Middle Blocker: Olga Karpova (Astana Club)
Best Opposite Spiker: Jong Jin Sim (4.25 Sports Club)
Best Setter: Nguyen Linh Chi (Thong Tin Lien Viet Post Bank)
Best Libero: Pham Thi Lien (Thong Tin Lien Viet Post Bank)
Best Young Player: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (VTV Binh Dien Long An)
