Yogyakarta, Indonesia, August 24, 2024 – Thailand shut out Philippines in convincing straight sets to next square off with hosts Indonesia in the last clash of the 2024 SEA V. League at UNY Sport Complex here which will determine the eventual second leg champions.
On Saturday, Thailand, the only team which have yet lost a single set in the two-leg campaign of the 2024 SEA V. League, demolished Philippines 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19), while Indonesia and Vietnam locked horns in intense battle as the host side narrowly edged past the determined visitors in epic tie-breaker 25-22, 28-30, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13.
After the action-packed two days of the single round-robin competition, Thailand are leading on a 2-0 win-loss record and a perfect set record of 6-0 (combined two-leg 15-0) to stay atop the four-team standings with 6 points and a win away from sealing back-to-back titles. Indonesia are trailing in second place with 5 points from two wins in succession. Vietnam are in third place with one point from two consecutive losses, with winless Philippines on the bottom fourth position with no point earned.
With only one match remaining for each team to compete on Sunday, either Thailand or Indonesia look set to capture the second leg title. Their confrontation with each other will determine the best team in Yogyakarta and the second leg champions. At the same time, Vietnam will challenge Philippines in their last match which will also decide the third place and bronze medal.
In the first encounter on Saturday, Thailand, current world No.65 and winners at the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup, remained strong offensively with the likes of Napadet Bhinijdee and Kissada Nilsawai, who respectively landed the Best Outside Hitter and the MVP awards at the first leg at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, Philippines last weekend. They rested two key players in outside hitter Anurak Phanram and middle blocker Anuchit Pakdeekaew and instead fielded Anut Promchan and left-hander Presert Pinkaew.
With Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni at the helm, Philippines, playing without team captain Bryan Bagunas, who suffered from the knee injury, made a brilliant start to lead 6-0 in the first set. However, Thailand bounced back mightily, with Napadet on fire in powerful attacks with well-placed serves. Kissada did a very good job on fast spikes and blocking and Presert on his fast attacks. Thailand took the comeback first set win 25-18.
The second set turned out to be…
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