VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam’s Vietin Bank finished seventh in the 2017 Asian Women’s Club Samruk Kazyna Volleyball Championship at the Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace in Kazakhstan yesterday.

Viet Nam’s Vietin Bank celebrate beating Rebisco-PSL Manila at the 2017 Asian Women’s Club Samruk Kazyna Volleyball Championship at the Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace in Kazakhstan yesterday. — Photo asianvolleyball.net

The team defeated the Philippine’s Rebisco-PSL Manila in straight sets 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 in the playoff for seventh and eighth position.

The Vietnamese side also met Rebisco-PSL Manila in the qualifying round, winning 3-1.

Pham Thi Kim Hue finished with 16 points, leading all scorers.

“I am happy that we were able to finish the competition with this win. If we played like we did today against Chinese Taipei yesterday, then we would have finished with a higher ranking,” Hue said according to the tournament’s website.

“I really enjoyed this competition and this city, and I hope a Vietnamese team will have another chance to play in this country,” she added.

In the first set, Hue and Le Thanh Thuy established a strong middle game for Vietin Bank. While Alyja Santiago and captain Rachel Anne Daquis picked up some points for the Rebisco-PSL Manila, the Vietnamese side showed a more cohesive attack. With Vietin Bank enjoying a 16-8 advantage at the second technical time-out, Rebisco-PSL made several errors, with the set ending 25-13 to Vietin Bank.

In the next set, Jovelyn Gonzaga led Rebisco-PSL’s offense and scored from the right side. Abigail Maraño and setter Kim Fajardo likewise scored off blocks, securing an 11-7 advantage. The Vietnamese side fought back with attacks from the middle, bring the set even at 12-12.

Three straight aces from Doan Thi Xuan brought Vietin Bank up front, 18-15, before captain Nguyen Thi Xuan led the way to a comfortable 25-18 in the second set.

Hue and Xuan continued playing well for her team, with Hoang Minh Tam providing more support from the flanks. While Daquis and Maraño kept fighting, the Vietnamese side showed better composure and secured a 25-15 win in the final set.

Last year, Viet Nam’s representative also finished seventh at the tournament.

After this event, five members of Vietin Bank including Hue and Bui Vu Thanh Tuyen will join the national women’s volleyball team to prepare for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia in August.

VNS