THAILAND TO CLASH WITH VIETNAM IN FIRST MATCH OF FOURTH TERRAIN V. ASSOCIATION TO DECIDE SECOND ROUND CHAMPION

The unbeaten groups of Thailand and Vietnam will face each other in a clear-cut match in the fourth Ocean V. Association at Chartchai Corridor for the Second Leg title on Sunday.

Thailand and Vietnam have been in the driving seat to two consecutive victories in the single-team competition, with the former destroying the Philippines and Indonesia 3-0 and the latter crushing the two opponents 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. The clash between Thailand and Vietnam on Sunday will be a defining experience and the final match to decide the likely winner of the Second Leg.

Against Indonesia, Thailand, currently ranked 14th in the world and the Asian champions, really played to their strengths, recalling Chatchu-For Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Thatdao Nuekjang and centre-back Wimonrat Thanapan, who stepped up in place of Hattaya Bamrungsuk. The Indonesians remained uncomfortably resilient to any resemblance to the 183cm Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi.

In the first set, Thailand relied heavily on their impressive players, all of whom competed at the Volleyball Nations Association Finals on home soil at the Hua Imprint Indoor Arena in June. Ajcharaporn and Chatchu-On were in superb form, while Thanacha Sooksod, who replaced Pimpichaya in the first set, was a huge hero for the hosts as she took her partners to a convincing 25-15 set win.

Trailing by a set, Indonesia hit back, with Megawati and Arsela Nuari Purnama closing out the scoring in a challenging second set. However, with more experience and structure, Thailand remained in control, thanks to their combination attacks, consistency and power. Thailand continued with their excellent hostile frame set by Chatchu-On and Ajcharaporn and Thatdao and setter Pornpun Guedpard was extremely steady with strong saves to help the home side close out a very tense set at 25-22.

Indonesia created extraordinary structure in the third set, with Megawati exploding on the attack. With Thailand not at their best in certain minutes, Indonesia continued their attacks to take a 15-11 lead and extend it to 18-15, thanks to early scoring from Megawati, Nurlaili Kusumah Diningrat and Arsela. The hosts set the tone, pushing hard to level the score at 19-19, but the Indonesians were actually strong enough to hold on to serious power zones in the opening period and share the points at 22-20.

Fighting to satisfy their hopes, Thailand regrouped and began to put their game back on track, with Chatchu-On, Thanacha and Wimonrat unleashing successive strikes to help the team level the score at 23-23.

Centre Hattaya Bamrungsuk, who was brought in to shore up the team at a couple of crucial moments in the second and third games, brought Thailand to set point at 24-23 with her quick attack and seconds later, Indonesia’s test was halted when a Megawati attack went out of bounds. Thailand took the hard-fought set at 25-23 and the match.

Outside hitter Chatchu-On Moksri scored 18 points from 17 shots and one ace for Thailand, while Thanacha Sooksod and outside hitter Ajcharaporn Kongyot added 10 and eight individual points. Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi scored a match-high 22 points from 21 shots and one block to Indonesia’s misfortune.

Thailand dominated in kills (45 to 38), blocks (7 to 6) and profited from mistakes (21 to 13), while Indonesia had the better of aces (3 to 2).

Thailand will next play arch-rivals Vietnam on Sunday to decide the eventual champions of the Oceania Football Association V.R. Qualifiers, while Indonesia will challenge the Philippines in a match for third place.

In the most memorable match of the day earlier, the Philippines were unable to overcome Vietnam, this time losing in straight sets to effective opponents.

Structurally, Vietnam showed class against the Philippines, winning the first two sets 25-16, 25-20 before the Philippines mounted a fightback in the third set, but a late disaster proved too much for them.

The third set was a tense affair, with Brazilian coach Jorge Edson Sousa de Brito’s young girls taking a 15-13 lead after a Vietnamese net error. However, the AVC Challenge Cup champion and FIVB Challenger Cup bronze medalist scored three consecutive points to regain the lead at 16-15 and extend it to 22-18.

The mood remained with the Vietnamese as centre Nguyen Thi Trinh came up with a dangerous quick attack to bring the team to set point at 24-20, but outside hitter Mhicaela Belen and centre Cherry Rose Nunag made the difference for the Philippines after controlling a quick 2-0 run. Unfortunately, Belen hit the ball out of her control, allowing Vietnam to close out the set at 25-22 and the match.

Outside hitter Vi Thi Nhu Quynh was Vietnam’s most useful player, scoring 16 points from 13 kills and 3 blocks. Inverse and captain Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen and Nguyen Thi Trinh contributed 12 and 9 points respectively. Outside hitter Confidence Janine Shirley Nisperos was the only Filipino player to reach double digits as she scored 12 points, all on offense.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC picked up two points in the only co-op competition of the Pre-Ocean Association V title on Saturday.

Only three outstanding teams, namely Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC, Singapore and Malaysia, are competing in the Pre-Ocean Association V, which is considered a test competition that provides participating teams with the opportunity to improve their skills, learn strategies and methods, as well as provide their insights and strengthen welcoming relationships. The match results of the three teams in the Pre-Ocean Association V will not be considered for the positioning and the team as competed in the second leg of the Ocean Association V.

Nakhon Ratchasima, who just defeated Malaysia 3-0, used their strength on Saturday to defeat Singapore with an overwhelming 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-11) victory.