HOSTS BINH DIEN ON COURSE FOR SEMI-FINALS

Quang Nam, Vietnam, May 14, 2018 – Formidable VTV Binh Dien Long An moved a step closer to the semi-finals of the 12th VTV9 Binh Dien Cup International Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Tamky Gym after brushing off China’s Fujian in straight sets 25-20 25-17 25-18 on Monday.

It was the second victory of VTV Binh Dien in this tournament after a dramatic 3-1 win over Est Cola from Thailand on Saturday. With two successive wins, hosts VTV Binh Dien, which finished second to eventual winners Bangkok Glass from Thailand at the previous edition last year, have already booked their berth in the semi-finals.

Against Fujian on Monday, the host side fielded a strong lineup led by the 193cm-tall Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and veteran Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, while the visitors were spearheaded by Zheng Yixin, Luo Hui and Liu Yang.

In a display somewhere near their best effort, VTV Binh Dien performed well defensively with powerful attacks from Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Duong Thi Hen. Going down two sets in a row 20-25 17-25, Fujian regained their form and fought well in the third set. After a hotly-contested battle in the middle of the set with the Chinese side hot on the hosts’ heels, VTV Binh Dien started to produce the goods and never looked back to win the third set 25-18 and match.

Duong Thi Hen led VTV Binh Dien with 12 points including 10 kills from 25 attempts. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy assisted 11 points including 9 kills and one solid block. Zheng Yixin topscored Fujian with 12 points including 11 kills.

Earlier, Thailand’s Est Cola tasted their first win in the tournament following a dramatic 3-1 (25-19 18-25 25-18 25-21) win over Thong tin LVPB of Vietnam. Veteran Wilavan Apinyappong scored a match-high 24 points for Est Cola. Thanacha Sooksod and Oanchisa Lonok added 17 and 16 points for the team.

The win has improved the Thai side’s win-loss performance to 1-1 which helped move them to the second place of Pool A.

Est Cola will next play a must-win match against Fujian on Wednesday to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals alive, while VTV Binh Dien will take on Thong tin LVPB in their final preliminary Pool A match.

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