THAILAND THROUGH TO FINALS AT ASEAN UNIVERSITY GAMES VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, December 13, 2018 – Reigning champions Thailand brushed off Myanmar in comfortable straight sets in both men’s and women’s events to advance to the final showdowns of the 19th Asean University Games Volleyball Tournament at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium Hall B on Thursday.
In the women’s competition, hot favourites Thailand, which registered their first victory in the tournament following a scintillating 3-0 win over Singapore on Tuesday, remained in awesome form in their last preliminary match against Myanmar on Thursday. Strengthened by many Thailand national junior players including Kuttika Kaewpin, Sineenart Phocharoen and Tichaya Boonlert, the defending and successive two-time champions crushed the host side in a totally one-sided battle 25-6 25-7 25-10.
With two wins in a row in the single round-robin preliminaries, Thailand had 6 points to capture the top spot, with Singapore and winless Myanmar finishing second and third places with 3 points and no point respectively. With only top two teams advancing to the showdown, Thailand set up a rematch against Singapore in the Friday’s final.
In the men’s semi-finals, the Philippines, bannered by reigning UAAP men’s champions National University, continued their remarkable unbeaten run by thrashing Indonesia, silver medallists at the previous Games in Singapore two years ago, in comfortable straight sets 25-14 25-23 25-13 to secure a final berth.
The other semi-final clash saw Thailand, defending and consecutive six-time winners which started the campaign with a humiliating 0-3 loss to the Philippines, regain their form on Thursday. The Thai team handed unbeaten Myanmar the first loss in the tournament after pulling off a straight-set 25-19 25-20 25-17 victory.
Thailand set up the final clash on Friday with the Philippines, while the host side will take on Indonesia in the third-place playoff.
Meanwhile, Malaysia struggled to beat Singapore in dramatic four-setter 25-19 18-25 25-15 25-22 in the 5th-6th playoff.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Women’s Last Preliminary Match: Thailand b Myanmar 3-0 (25-6 25-7 25-10)
Men’s Semi-finals
Thailand b Myanmar 3-0 (25-19 25-20 25-17)
Philippines b Indonesia 3-0 (25-14 25-23 25-13)
Men’s 5th-6th Playoff: Malaysia b Singapore 3-1 (25-19 18-25 25-15 25-22)
MATCH SCHEDULE
FINAL DAY
DECEMBER 14, 2018
10.00am: Women’s Gold Medal Match: Thailand v Singapore
12.00pm: Men’s Bronze Medal Match: Indonesia v Myanmar
14.00pm: Men’s Gold Medal Match: Thailand v the Philippines
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