Japanese spikers run through China in final
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Hisamitsu Springs of Japan stunned four-time champions Bohai Bank Tianjin of China to clinch the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship title yesterday.
The Japanese champions battled to a 25-19 25-16 25-19 win to capture the prestigious HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn trophy and a ticket to the six-team FIVB World Club Championship in Zurich from May 7 to 11.
It was Japan’s second win in the annual tournament, ending a 12-year title drought.
Hosts Nakhonratchasima finished fifth after taking revenge on Thong Tin Lienvietpostbank, the Vietnamese team they lost 3-2 to in the round-robin preliminaries. The Thais won the 5th-6th place play-off by edging a five-set thriller 21-25 25-18 25-20 19-25 15-11.
Nakhonratchasima improved on the Thai performance at last year’s championship in Vietnam, when Thailand League champions Idea Khonkaen returned a disappointing seventh position.
“I have to say that we played better, despite the fact that our teamwork is not that good compared with the tactically superior Vietnamese.
We missed some crucial points through unforced mistakes. However, I’m pleased with our performance, especially considering that we, as a Thai club, were able to beat a team of fully-fledged Vietnam national players,” said Nakhonratchasima head coach Suthichai Chanbunchee.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Matin Varamin claimed seventh position with a 3-1 (25-22 25-1618-25 25-20) win over PLDT of the Philippines. India’s KSEB thrashed Singapore’s VAS 25-12 25-17 25-8 to finish ninth.
