Isa City, Bahrain, June 7, 2024 – Star spiker Zhang Jingyin scored a match-high 27 factors as China bounced again to beat Australia in hard-fought five-set thriller 21-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19, 17-15 to subsequent battle it out with Vietnam for the fifth place within the 2024 AVC Problem Cup for Males on the Isa City Sport Metropolis Corridor 3 right here on Friday.
Contesting the Classification Spherical for Fifth-Eighth locations, China, which picked up silver medal on the reschedule Hangzhou Asian Video games final 12 months and the winners on the 2022 AVC Cup in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, had been relegated from final 12 months’s VNL by advantage of being the bottom-ranked nation within the 16-team subject and are searching for their approach again to the world-class competitors.
As hosts, China are assured of robotically securing a slot within the FIVB Challenger Cup between July 4 and seven in Linyi, however underneath the steerage of latest head coach Belgian Very important Heynen, the Chinese language group are in Bahrain to sharpen their abilities and show their abilities towards sturdy groups on this top-tier match. Although out of title competition, China proved effectively they’re one of many formidable groups to be reckoned with within the close to future.
Within the first set, world No.35 Australia, which completed fifth on the earlier version final 12 months in Chinese language Taipei, brewed a strong mix of defence and offense orchestrated by reverse Matthew Aubrey and outdoors hitter Thomas Heptinstall to guide China all the way in which. An ace service from Heptinstall introduced Australia to the set level 24-20, however his service error in his second try gave China one other breath of air. Nonetheless, Australia dashed the Chinese language hopes of comeback because the hefty 209cm-tall Aubrey hammered a lethal cross-court kill for the Aussies’ 25-21 win.
Conceding one set, China stormed again within the second set, with skipper Jiang Chuan and star spiker Zhang Jingyin overcoming the Australian blockers with distinctive assaults to assist the group lead 24-20. China allowed the tall rivals yet one more level from the left-hander reverse Aubrey’s assault earlier than the 207cm outdoors hitter Zhang Jingyin fired a thundering mid-court spike to assist China clinch the set 25-21.
The following two units turned out to be see-saw battle, with Australia, led by Aubrey and Ethan Garrett, successful the hard-fought third set 25-23 and Zhang Jingyin, whose playmaking steered his group with 8 factors, and reverse Wang Jingyi instrumental in lifting the China’s 25-19 win within the fourth set, forcing the tie-breaker to find out the eventual winners.
Within the decisive fifth set, China misplaced their grip from the start to path behind 1-4 and 4-9, however after that, they began to achieve management. As Australia grew to become extra inclined with service errors, China got here again with extra aggression to stage it at 13-13. An assault from Garrett touched an antenna moved China forward to the match level 14-13, however the Aussies didn’t give up as Garrett made amends along with his assault to even it once more at 15-15. In a decent contest, Zhang Jingyin put China upfront 17-16 earlier than one other spike from Garrett went broad, delighting the rivals. China captured the thrilling decider 17-15 and match.
Zhang Jingyin was the most efficient participant on this match, scoring a match-high 27 factors from 22 kills, 3 blocks and a pair of aces for China, whereas Jiang Chuan and Peng Shikun contributed 15 and 10 factors respectively. Matthew Aubrey and Ethan Garrett scored 22 factors apiece on the Australia’s loss.
China will now face off towards world No.52 Vietnam for the Fifth place. Vietnam, which completed fourth place on the earlier version in Chinese language Taipei, cruised to dramatic 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-21, 25-21) victory towards world No.67 Bahrain in one other Fifth-Eighth playoff conflict on Friday.
Nguyen Ngọc Thuan, who was the Vietnam’s prime scorer of their earlier matches towards Australia, Chinese language Taipei and Pakistan, nonetheless proved a significant drive for the group on this powerful match towards hosts Bahrain.
In a decent first set, Vietnam took a slim lead 14-13 and maintained their momentum to widen it to 22-20 and 23-22, because of the mix assaults from outdoors hitter Nguyen Ngoc Thuan and reverse Pham Van Hip. A service error from center blocker Hasan Haider handed the sturdy guests the set level at 24-22 and one other unsuitable shot from outdoors hitter Abdulla Mohamed Yaqoob price the hosts expensive. Vietnam took the set 25-22.
Happening one set, Bahrain, which picked up silver on the final 12 months’s version, bounced again to take an preliminary lead with a three-point clear at 9-6 earlier than Vietnam step by step pulled their recreation collectively and fought arduous to catch them at 17-17 and 20-20.
The on-going battle grew to become extra intense with either side pouring the whole lot to win the set. Bahrain first reached the set level 24-23, however Vietnam didn’t give as much as catch the host facet at 24-24. To make quick work of the guests, Bahrain scored two factors in a row to seize the hotly-contested set 26-24.
Nguyen Ngọc Thuan gave Vietnam a profitable comeback within the third set. The highly effective 193cm outdoors hitter was on hearth and his risk on offense proved an unstoppable drive within the Vietnam’s lineup. Though Bahrain put up a courageous battle towards the decided rivals, Vietnam showcased their prowess, with Nguyen Ngoc Thuan unleashing a barrage of highly effective assaults to attain 10 factors for the guests’ 25-21 win on this set.
Their confidence boosted after main 2-1, Vietnam remained in prime type within the fourth set to take the commanding led with a seven-point benefit at 23-16. Nonetheless, the host facet confirmed flashes of brilliance after that to attain 4 factors on the trot to slim the margin 20-23.
Skipper Duong Van Tien handed Vietnam the set level at 24-20, however an explosive assault from outdoors hitter Ali Sayed Hashem saved the day for Bahrain. The hosts’ delight didn’t final lengthy as a serve from Abdulla Mohamed Yaqoob went out broad, leading to 25-21 in favor of Vietnam.
Nguyen Ngọc Thuan chipped in with 19 factors together with 18 kills from 35 makes an attempt for Vietnam, whereas Pham Van Hiep contributed 17 factors from 13 kills, 3 blocks and one ace. Khamis Ali led Bahrain with 15 factors from 14 kills and one ace, whereas Abudulla Mohamed and Abdulla Mohamed Yaqoob stored good firm so as to add 14 and 10 factors respectively.
In the meantime, the playoff matches earlier noticed Thailand declare the ninth place after dramatic 3-1 win towards Philippines and Indonesia returned with the eleventh place following their 3-0 demolition of Chinese language Taipei.
Thailand, whose title defence marketing campaign on this topflight competitors grew to become an inconceivable mission following their loss within the hard-fought five-set thriller towards Kazakhstan in Pool B that put them out of title competition, completed ninth place on Friday. The world No.62 overcame a robust problem from Philippines to beat the world No.61 in shut four-setter 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20 on Friday.
Thailand, which completed seventh place on the 2023 FIVB Challenger Cup in Doha, fielded a formidable lineup led by devastating left-hander Amornthep Khonhan, Anurak Phanram and Supakorn Jenthaisong, whereas Philippines had been additionally sturdy offensively with the likes of Marck Jesus Espejo and Kim Malabunga.
The Thais began solidly within the opening set with aggressive offense orchestrated by Amornthep and Supakorn. After leveling at 15-15, Thailand went forward 21-18 and prolonged it to 23-20. Philippines tried to claw their approach again, however their makes an attempt had been in useless as Thailand went on their assaults to take the primary set 25-20.
Conceding one set, Philippines buckled all the way down to work a lot more durable within the second set, with skipper and veteran outdoors hitter Marck Espejo unleashing a barrage of assaults. Each side locked horn within the see-saw battle, however Philippines fared higher with spectacular offensive system. Marck Espejo fired a robust spike handy the group final level and finish the Thai problem on this set 25-23.
Within the third set, Philippines initially gained the higher hand as outdoors hitter Jade Alex Diisquitado confirmed his wares, sending the group to a slim 16-15 lead earlier than Thailand hit again with a 7-3 rampage that carried them to a 22-19 cushion.
Center blocker Anuchit Pakdeekaew’s quick assault introduced Thailand to the set level earlier than Amornthep soared from the again to assist the group clinch the set 25-22.
The fourth set noticed Philippines give all of it out and stored it shut at 17-18, however a double contact violation towards Joshua Retamar adopted by an ace serve from Supakorn despatched Thailand to the match level at 24-19. Philippines saved one match level earlier than a spike from Espejo went out broad. Thailand captured the essential set 25-20 and match.
Amornthep Khonhan scored a match-high 30 factors together with 29 kills from 48 makes an attempt for Thailand, whereas Supakorn Jenthaisong contributed 15 factors together with 14 kills. Marck Jesus Espejo led Philippines with 16 factors together with 15 kills from 30 makes an attempt, with Jade Alex Disquitado including one other 14 factors on the group’s loss.
Following the dramatic win, Thailand completed ninth place, a far cry from what that they had achieved within the earlier version final 12 months once they proudly stood on prime of the rostrum, whereas Philippines completed the continental showpiece in tenth place for the second 12 months operating.
Earlier, Indonesia, fielding younger stars, whose age common is eighteen years – the youngest reverse Nibras Fauzan coming in at 16 and the oldest center blocker Yoku Mega Yuri Pradana and reverse Fauzan Rama Fazza at simply 22, survived a scare from Chinese language Taipei, represented by their U20 squad, to seal the straight-set win 26-24, 25-21, 27-25.
After taking place combating within the first two units, Chinese language Taipei bounced again within the closely-contested third set, which they led initially 10-8. The Indonesians caught them at 14-14 and with Prasasti Yohanes Dedi unleasing a collection of fierce assaults, they maintained management afterwards to forge forward 16-14.
Chinese language Taipei didn’t worry and countered with assaults and blocks to catch the rivals at 17-17. Leads modified arms for a number of instances till the rating was leveled at 25-25.
Indonesia scored two factors in a row, with Krisna Krisna coming off the bench to hammer an off-the-block kill for the group’s final successful level. Indonesia took the set 27-25, match and the eleventh place. Chinese language Taipei completed on the underside twelfth place on this match.
RESULTS AND POOL RANKINGS
POOL 9-12
POOL 5-8
MATCH SCHEDULE
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