THAILAND PRODUCE EPIC COMEBACK WIN AGAINST AUSSIES FOR MAIDEN 5TH PLACE AT AVC CUP FOR MEN – Asian Volleyball Confederation

August 2018
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THAILAND PRODUCE EPIC COMEBACK WIN AGAINST AUSSIES FOR MAIDEN 5TH PLACE AT AVC CUP FOR MEN

Taipei, Chinese Taipei, August 15, 2018 – Thailand overpowered battling Australia with a seismic come-from-behind 3-2 (21-25, 25-27, 25-16, 25-17, 15-5) victory to finish 5th place at the 6th AVC Cup for Men at the University of Taipei (Tianmu) Gymnasium on Wednesday.

Fresh from a brilliant 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan on the previous day, Australia got off to a solid start with an early 12-8 lead in the first set. The Thais narrowed the gap thanks to wonderful digs and penetrating counterattacks at 12-13 before the Aussies proved better in digging to advance with 5 points at 20-15. Without any more doubt, Australia took the set 25-21.

In the second set, the Thai side fielded several substitutions to seek a comeback, which was handsomely rewarded when they took steady lead from 10-9 until 23-20. However, Australia retaliated a comeback with their wall of blocks. With two more points allowed to the Thais, Aussies won the hard-fought set 27-25.

Stockton Curtis performed a killing spike and block successively to help Australia start the third set with 2-0. But from then their attacking and receiving mistakes re-occurred.

Thailand led at the first technical time-out (8-5) and then widened to 16-7 at the second for a comfortable set 25-16.

Thailand remained in red-hot form with powerful services shooting in the fourth set and held a four-point clear from 5-1 to 16-12. Demonstrating their decisive aim for a comeback, the Thais wrapped up the set 25-17 and went on another comfortable win in the decider 15-9. Thailand captured the 5th place, with Australia in 6th.

Substitution from the second set, Konhan Amorntep scored team-high 17 points for Thailand including 15 kills, one block and one ace, with Nilsawai Kissada adding 16 points including 12 kills, 3 blocks, and an ace. Stockton Curtis contributed 18 points for Australia including 16 kills from 42 attempts.

“We played a wonderful game and we never gave up,” commented Thailand head coach Monchai Supajirakul. “We feel satisfied with this result as well as the event.”

“We made too many mistakes at the beginning of the third set. It turned out that the desire to win this game led us in playing conservatively. On the other hand, Thailand performed excellently at the latter part of the match. They deserve this win,” said Australia head coach Liam Sketcher.

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