THAILAND EMERGE TRIUMPHANT AT 4TH SEA V. LEAGUE FIRST LEG IN VINH PHUC

August 5, 2024

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Images courtesy of Vietcontent

Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, August 4, 2024 – Perennial SEA Video games champions Thailand struggled onerous to place it previous decided hosts and long-time archrivals Vietnam in epic tie-breaker to stamp their domination over the 4th SEA V. League First Leg on the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium right here on Sunday night time.

The hard-fought 3-2 (25-18, 27-29, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13) win in exhausting 159 minutes on the packed venue handed Thailand a clear sweep within the single round-robin competitors in Vinh Phuc.

Thailand and Vietnam had already pulled off two wins in succession within the three-day occasion and the confrontation between them on Sunday proved to be a decisive match and the ultimate showdown to find out the eventual winners of the First Leg.

Thailand, present world No.14, defending and three-time Asian champions, introduced their finest gamers to the court docket on the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium, the place they powered previous hosts Vietnam for his or her First Leg supremacy on the earlier version final 12 months, and their star-studded squad together with Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Hattaya Bamrungsuk and Thatdao Nuekjang led Thailand to flawless begin within the first two matches with 3-0 in opposition to Indonesia and the Philippines.

As Thailand, consecutive 14-time SEA Video games winners, fielded a fully-fledged crew, hosts Vietnam, consecutive two-time AVC Problem Cup and historic bronze medallists at this 12 months’s FIVB Challenger Cup, had been additionally sturdy offensively with the likes of prolific exterior hitter and skipper Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and highly effective reverse Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, 188cm tall, who emerged as Greatest Scorer and Greatest Attacker on the current FIVB Challenger Cup within the Philippines.

Thailand combined the offensive mobility of highly effective assaults from Chatchu-On, Pimpichaya and Ajcharaporn and stable blocks from Chatchu-On, Hattaya and Thatdao to take the snug first set 25-18. Vietnam’s key participant and crew captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy didn’t make her mark and was sidelined since then. Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen stepped up as the primary weapon to guide the crew’s offense.

Conceding one set, Vietnam regrouped and roared again mightily, making the subsequent two units extra thrilling and hotly-contested. Their serving was actually good and their blocking and protection created lots of issues to Thailand.

Within the second set, Chatchu-On’s block-out kill put Thailand within the slim lead 24-23, however Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen’s back-row assault saved the day for Vietnam. Leads modified palms for just a few moments and after leveling at 27-27, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen produced an efficient drop to convey the set level to Vietnam at 28-27 earlier than sub-in Dinh Thi Tra Giang carried out an ace serve for the crew’s hard-fought 29-27 win.

Either side performed neck and neck within the third set, however after 20-all, Thailand grew to become extra susceptible to unforced errors and Vietnam seized the prospect to penetrate the Thai defence with their distinctive assaults from Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh and Tran Tu Linh. Vietnam clinched the thrilling third set 25-23, leaving boisterous followers to erupt in applause and jubilation.

The commanding 2-1 lead moved Vietnam a step nearer to beating Thailand for the primary time since they first met within the 2001 SEA Video games closing. Nevertheless, issues turned bitter for the hosts aspect.

Chatchu-On had a stable efficiency within the fourth set which included a solo blocking in opposition to a robust assault from Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen. Chatchu-On was instrumental in lifting Thailand’s lead with a five-point clear at 22-17.

Because the Vietnamese reverse carried out an ace serve to assist slim the margin 21-23, Chatchu-On overpowered the blockers along with her nice assault for the set level 24-21 and Ajcharaporn closed out the set for Thailand along with her thundering cross-court assault. The sturdy guests took the essential set 25-21, forcing a tie-breaker.

The decider grew to become a see-saw affair as leads went forwards and backwards till Thailand discovered their rhythm to maneuver forward 12-10. Nevertheless, the Thai crew misplaced their nerves to momentarily endure a setback and misplaced three factors in a row, leaving the house followers to return to life once more. Nonetheless, their delight didn’t final lengthy as Chatchu-On leveled it at 13-13, because of her aggression on the web. Thailand managed to maintain their edge till the top with Pimpichaya and Ajcharaporn scoring the final two factors for the crew’s eventual 15-13 win.

Chatchu-On Moksri delivered 29 factors from 25 kills, 3 blocks and one ace for Thailand, whereas Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot saved good firm to contribute 22 and 17 factors. Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen scored a match-high 41 factors from 39 kills, one block and one ace on the Vietnam’s loss.

Thailand dominated in kills (80 to 68), blocks (11 to eight) and benefitted from extra opponent errors (22 to 21). Vietnam fared higher in aces (9 to 2).

Earlier, Philippines, which completed seventh on the FIVB Challenger Cup on dwelling soil, managed a 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-21) shutout of Indonesia in 127 minutes.

Center blocker Alyssa Jae Solomon was the Philippines’ most efficient participant with 16 factors from 14 kills, one block and one ace.

Reverse Purnama Arsela Nuari chipped in 22 factors together with 19 assaults from 38 makes an attempt for Indonesia. Fellow reverse Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri added one other 18 factors.

After three days of the one round-robin competitors, Thailand topped the cost with 8 factors from three straight wins, adopted by Vietnam with 7 factors from two wins in opposition to one loss. Philippines got here in third place with 3 factors from one win in opposition to two losses, with winless Indonesia in fourth place with no level earned.

Thailand captured gold medal, whereas Vietnam picked up silver and the Philippines bronze medals.

All 4 groups will now journey to Thailand for the Second Leg marketing campaign, which is about to be held from August 9 to 11 on the 5,000-seater Chartchai Corridor inside Chalerm Phrakiart Sports activities Advanced in Nakhon Ratchasima.

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