Bac Ninh, Vietnam, February 18, 2017 – Thongtin Lienvietpostbank, VTV Binh Dien and Vietin Bank orchestrated a podium sweep for hosts Vietnam in the International Women’s Volleyball Tournament Lienvietpostbank Cup 2017, with Thongtin LVPB capturing their supremacy to claim US$15,000 cash prize.
The tournament was held between February 11 and 18, with a total of eight teams from four countries vying for the top honour. Thongtin Lienvietpostbank from Vietnam, Thanh Hoa from Vietnam, Malaysia and Nanjing from China were in Pool A, while Pool B comprised VTV Binh Dien from Vietnam, Vietinbank from Vietnam; Tianjin University from China and Est Cola U18 Thailand.
The pool round-robin preliminaries kicked off on February 11. Only top two teams from each pool made the cut for the semi-finals on February 17, while the lower-ranked third and fourth places from each pool were relegated to the 5th-8th classification.
After the preliminaries, all four teams from the host nation advanced to the Friday’s semi-finals. Undefeated Thanh Hoa topped Pool A with 9 points, followed by Thongtin Lienvietpostbank with 6 points. Nanjing came in third place with 3 points and winless Malaysia finished fourth.
Vietinbank made a clean sweep in Pool B with 9 points, with Binh Dien in second place with 6 points. Thailand finished third place with 3 points, while unfancied Tianjin claimed the fourth position.
In the semi-finals, VTV Binh Dien recovered from the first set down 14-25 to win the remaining three sets 25-20 25-17 25-15 over Tien Nong Thanh Hoa, while Thongtin Lienvietpostbank pulled off a straight-set 25-23 25-22 25-10 victory over Vietinbank.
The 5th-8th classification saw Nanjing outclass Tianjin in an all-Chinese encounter 3-1 (25-9 25-15 18-25 25-12) and the Est Cola U18 Thailand team beat Malaysia in close straight sets 25-20 29-27 26-24.
On Saturday, the final day of the invitational tournament, Thongtin Lienvietpostbank maintained their good form to power past VTV Binh Dien 3-1 (25-16 20-25 29-27 25-19) in the final showdown to capture the title. Vietinbank took the third place after beating Tien Nong Thanh Hoa in straight sets 26-24 25-17 25-20.
In the playoffs earlier, Nanjing claimed the fifth place as the Chinese came from behind to clinch the hard-fought 3-2 (17-25 23-25 25-23 25-16 15-13) win over Est Cola U18 Thailand team and Malaysia took the seventh position after downing Tianjin in straight sets 25-18 25-19 25-14.
Results
February 11: Tien Nong Thanh Hoa b Malaysia 3-0 (27-25 25-21 25-16), Thongtin Lienvietpostbank b Nanjing 3-0 (25-17 25-17 25-20)
February 12: VTV Binh Dien b U18 Thailand 3-0 (25-20 25-18 25-12), Vietinbank b Tianjin 3-0 (25-18 25-13 25-10)
February 13: Thongtin Lienvietpostbank b Malaysia 3-0 (25-6 25-11 25-12) ,Tien Nong Thanh Hoa b Nanjing 3-0 (25-19 25-18 25-16)
February 14: VTV Binh Dien b Tianjin 3-0 (25-11 25-15 25-17), Vietinbank b Est Cola U18 Thailand 3-0 (25-12 25-12 25-18)
February 15: Nanjing b Malaysia 3-0 (25-21 25-21 25-18), TN Thanh Hoa b Thongtin Lienvietpostbank 3-1 (25-22 25-20 19-25 25-23)
February 16: Vietinbank b VTV Binh Dien 3-1 (27-25 21-25 26-24 25-22), Est Cola U18 Thailand b Tianjin 3-1 (20-25 25-19 25-21 25-15)
February 17
Semi-finals
VTV Binh Dien b Tien Nong Thanh Hoa 3-1 (14-25 25-20 25-17 25-15) Thongtin Lienvietpostbank b Vietinbank 3-0 (25-23 25-22 25-10)
5th-8th playoffs
Nanjing b Tianjin 3-1 (25-9 25-15 18-25 25-12) Est Cola U18 Thailand b Malaysia 3-0 (25-20 29-27 26-24)
February 18
Final Day
Playoffs
7th-8th place: Malaysia b Tianjin 3-0 (25-18 25-19 25-14)
5th-6th place: Nanjing b Est Cola U18 Thailand 3-2 (17-25 23-25 25-23 25-16 15-13)
Bronze-medal match: Vietinbank b Tien Nong Thanh Hoa 3-0 (26-24 25-17 25-20)
Gold-medal match: Thongtin Lienvietpostbank b VTV Binh Dien 3-1 (25-16 20-25 29-27 25-19)
Final rankings
1. Thongtin LVPB (Vietnam) US$15,000 cash prize
2. VTV Binh Dien (Vietnam) US$10,000
3. Vietin Bank (Vietnam) US$6,000
4. Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) US$3,000
5. Nanjing University (China) US$2,000 Encouragement Prize
6. Est Cola U18 Thailand team (Thailand) US$2,000 Stylist Prize
7. Malaysia
8. Tianjin University (China)