Thailand go down fighting against the US

In front of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, who was the guest of honour, world No 12 Thailand started poorly to trail the strong visitors 0-4 in the first game. The team showed its resilience by storming back, with powerful Onuma Sittirak producing thunderous spikes to help her team draw 17-all against the Olympic silver medallists. Fierce attacks from left-hander Kelly Murphy and scintillating blocks by Foluke Akinradewo and Jordan Larson-Burbach stopped the hosts’ surge as the US took the game 25-19.

Thailand, who defeated world No 8 and the Pan American Cup champions Dominican Republic 3-1 on Friday, put their act together in the second game. The US briefly became prone to unforced mistakes. Nootsara Tomkom sent some well-placed serves while Wilavan Apinyapong and Onuma took turns to fire at the front. Nootsara combined well with Thatdao Nuekjang to block the American attack as the spirited Thais clinched the second game 25-19.

The third game raised the temperature in the stadium with the Thai team entertaining their adoring fans with some exceptional performance. With the crowd roaring on, Thailand started to deliver. Malika Kanthong turned into a scoring machine for Thailand. She came up with the powerful mid-court spikes which went unanswered. Malika put Thailand into 24-19 lead before Murphy hit a devastating smash to save one game point and Malika ended the visitors resurgence with a splendid great spike to the back court. Thailand won the game 25-20 and looked set to win the match. It was not to be, as it proved later.

The US roared back mightily in the fourth game, capturing the totally one-sided battle 25-12.

Spectators kept shouting “Thailand, Thailand” to cheer their players in the decider as both sides poured their everything to win the match. The Thai team looked very keen to fight the US point for point. The US fared better in crunch time to win the tie-breaker 15-10 and the match.

For Thailand, it was their second near-miss against the US, the team they had beaten in the 2009 World Grand Prix at home. Last year, Thailand almost beat the US for the second time, only going down in the deciding set 15-13 for a hard-fought 3-2 loss in the FIVB World Grand  Champions Cup in Japan.   

Meanwhile, title-holders and world No 1 Brazil powered past Dominican Republic in comfortable straight sets 25-19 25-11 29-27 for their second victory of the tournament.

Confident of beating the lower-ranked Dominicans, formidable Brazil fielded mostly their substitute players, with regular attacker Fabiana Claudino being the only exception.

Today, the US will take on Dominican Republic and Thailand will go up against Brazil in their last World Grand Prix Preliminary match.  Channel 7 will televise the Thai match live from 4.30pm.