Formidable Korea, fresh from beating Thailand in their opening clash on Saturday, demolished Saudi Arabia in thrilling straight sets for two wins on the trot to capture the top spot in Pool B in the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Men at University of Taipei Hall on Sunday.
Korea, current world No.33 and bronze medallists at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Seoul, had already beaten world No.60 Thailand in straight sets on Saturday, the opening day of this topflight tournament, the qualifying process in which the eventual champions will make the cut for the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Doha, Qatar in late July and open up their opportunity to get promoted and compete in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
On Sunday, Korea, fielding five key players who competed in the last year’s VCC including star spiker Heo Subong, Im Donghyeok and Park Kyeongmin, put it past Saudi Arabia 25-17, 25-20, 25-23.
Im Donghyeok chipped in with 16 points including 13 attacks from 21 attempts for Korea, while Jawad Alkhawaher led Saudi Arabia with 11 points on the team’s loss.
With two straight wins, Korea are assured of capturing the top spot in Pool B. Saudi Arabia will next go up against Thailand, former successive four-time South East Asian (SEA) Games winners, to fight for the second place in the Pool.
In Pool D at Taipei Gym, Philippines handed Macao, China the second loss in Taipei on Sunday after powering past the unfancied opponents in comfortable straight sets 25-21, 25-15, 25-14.
No player from both teams scored double-digit marker in this match, with Marck Jesus Espejo claiming 9 points from 7 attacks and two aces for Philippines. Chan Ka Lon scored 6 points on the Macao, China’s losing effort.
Following two successive losses, Macao, China are quite certain of finishing the third place in Pool D. On Monday, Philippines will fight it out with Mongolia, which earlier routed Macao, China in straight sets, to vie for the top spot in Pool D.
Australia, which received a bye from Pakistan following their late withdrawal from the tournament, won two in a row in Pool E when the current world No.37 pulled off a hard-fought four-set 25-23, 25-16, 33-35, 25-20 victory against Vietnam, bronze medallists at the recent SEA Games in Cambodia, at Taipei Gym on Sunday.
Australia proved a class above Vietnam, dominating the South East Asian side all the skills of the game with 63 attack points, 15 blocks and 10 aces. However, the Vietnamese had the…
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