Chinese spikers march on as Thais brace for Vietnam challenge
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Chinese favourites Bohai Bank Tianjin stamped their authority by thrashing the Philippines' PLDT in straight sets, 25-15 25-16 25-17, for their second victory in the 17th Princess Cup Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship at the Nakhonpathom Municipa
Four-time champions Tianjin were so confident of their superiority that coach Wang Baoquan rested star players and sent reserves Yu Jinwei, Li Ying and Yang Linlin onto court. The young Chinese side proved they have tactical and technical strength in depth, and determination to make their head coach’s dream of winning the championship come true.
With powerful Chen Liyi and Wang Jiamin launching devastating attacks from mid-court, Tianjin dominated from the start. PLDT fielded a strong line-up led by veteran Bell Mackenzie Regla Maritza, who led Cuba to three successive Olympic titles, and towering 197cm-tall Santiago Alyja Daphine, but were no match for the might of the Chinese.
The Filipinos offered a glimpse of their talent with a fight-back in the third set, Bell Mackenzie firing fierce attacks from mid-court and Santiago coming from behind to attack powerfully at the post. PLDT caught Tianjin at 10-10, but the Chinese team had enough to hold them off and win a hard-fought set 25-17 for victory.
Earlier, Taipei cruised past India’s KSEB 25-12 25-16 25-16, while Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu had no problem overcoming Singapore’s VAS in a one-sided battle that ended 25-14 25-14 25-9.
Thailand’s Nakhonratchasima had a rest day yesterday and will resume their challenge tomorrow when they take on Vietnam’s Thong Tin Lienvietpostbank in the last match of the day at 6pm.
