Sport Center 1 (yellow jersey) win historic Asian volleyball trophy. (Photo: VNA) The dramatic victory, coupled with a remarkable unbeatenrecord in the continent’s topflight club championship, ended Vietnam’s 22-yeargold-medal drought since making their debut in the 2001 championship as hosts.
The country’s previous best result in this annualcompetition was in 2011 when Thong Tin LienVietPostBank finished fourthon home soil.
Star Tran Thi Thanh Thuy scored a match high 30 pointsincluding 28 attacks for Sport Centre 1. Her teammates Tran Tu Linh and Vi ThiNhu Quynh made great performance to add 20 and 17 points, respectively.
Lead setter and captain Nootsara Tomkom, mixed offensivecombinations from powerful attacks from Wipawee Srithong and SasipapornJanthawisut with intensified blocks by Natasa Cikiriz and Thichakorn Boonlertfor the convincing victory in the first two sets 25-21, 25-17.
Sport Centre 1 tried their best but their efforts could onlyhelp to narrow the score.
Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet of Sport Centre 1 made severalchanges in the third set and his tactics paid off.
Sport Center 1 gradually pulled their game together andstormed back with spectacular attacks and gutsy displays to win 25-20, makinghome spectators at the stands go wild, shouting, clapping, dancing and wavingflags.
The Vietnamese side continued playing well with theirconsistency and confidence to clinch the fourth set 25-22, forcing a do-or-dietiebreaker.
Captain Thuy, who plays professional league with PFU BlueCats in the Japanese V.League Division 1, showed off her outstandingperformance in the decisive set.
She helped the Vietnamese team to fight neck and neck withDiamond Food before breaking away to lead 13-9. The hosts made their visitors'hard try useless, denying all of their attempts.
Their brilliant form led to a 15-10 win and gave them thechampionship trophy.
With this win, Vietnam will represent Asia at the 2023 FIVBVolleyball Women's Club World Championship to be held in China in December.
Thuy was voted the best outside hitter and MVP of thetournament while her teammate Nguyen Khanh Dang was the best libero.
Liaoning Donghua took the third place after beating KingWhale Taipei 26-24, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21.
The first win in history of Vietnam was a strong push forthem ahead of the ongoing 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. They are in Group B withthe Philippines, Singapore and the hosts. The team will defend their secondplace in the previous Games./.
VNA
