Photos courtesy of Vietcontent
Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, August 2, 2024 – Thailand demolished Indonesia in comfortable straight sets, as Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen scored a match-high 27 points to lift Vietnam’s 3-1 win against Philippines on Day 1 of the 4th Women’s SEA V. League Week 1 at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here on Friday.
Current world No.14 and Asian champions Thailand, fielding a full-fledged squad which finished eighth at the recent VNL Finals on home soil, had no issues in brushing off Indonesia 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-11) in 67 minutes, while Vietnam, consecutive two-time AVC Challenge Cup champions which took historic bronze at this year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Philippines, struggled to beat the determined Philippines in hard-fought four-setter 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21 in exhausting 112 minutes.
The single round-robin competition of the two-leg SEA V. League kicked off on Friday at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium, which had already served as the battleground for the last year’s Week 1 encounters.
In the first match on Friday, Thailand, offensively strong with the likes of Chatchu-On Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot, created a lot of problems to Indonesia in the opening set. Thanks to their exceptional offensive system orchestrated by Chatchu-On, Pimpichaya and Thatdao Nuekjang, Thailand dominated the whole set. Despite some powerful swings from opposite Purnama Arsela Nuari, the Thais managed to foil the rivals’ fightback attempts to take the easy first set 25-14.
Conceding one set, the Indonesians hit back with attacks from the 183cm-tall opposite Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri, helping the team remain hot on the strong rivals’ heels. After trailing closely with three points behind at 20-23, Indonesia maintained their poise and came up with aggression. However, Thailand were focused on what they had to do in each match and reached the set point 24-20 before an attack from Megawati went out wide, handing Thailand the second set 25-20.
The third set turned out to be one-way traffic as Thailand led from start to finish. Taking a commanding lead with 10-point clear at 21-11, the Thai team replaced Ajcharaporn with Sasipapron Janthawisut and she did not let teammates and head coach Nataphon Srisamutnak down with her brilliant form. She produced terrific jump serves to hand Thailand two aces in a row to move the team ahead 23-11. Sub-in Wimonrat Thanapan solidly blocked outside hitter Ratri Wulandari to bring the team to the…
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