bangkok Glass reign supreme in Asian Women’s Club Championship, winning berth to contest : 2016 World Club Championship

1. Bangkok Glass of Thailand: newly-crowned Asian Women’s Club champions.

2. Bangkok Glass of Thailand pose in a group photo during the awards presentation.

3. Bangkok Glass of Thailand hug in group after a stunning win over title-holders Hisamitsu Springs from Japan.

4. Bangkok Glass’ Pleumjit Thinkaow: the Most Valuable Player.

Bangkok Glass reign supreme in Asian Women’s Club Championship, winning berth to contest 2016 World Club Championship

Ha Nam, Vietnam, September 20, 2015 – Thailand’s Bangkok Glass underlined their supremacy over the 2015 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Ha Nam Gymnasium on Sunday after sealing an epic five-set 25-22 20-25 23-25 25-22 15-12 victory over title-holders Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs to win the Asia’s lone ticket to contest the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.

Bangkok Glass, double champions of the Thailand League and the Super League the previous season in Thailand, had already beaten DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club and China League champions Zhejiang en route to their final showdown against the mighty Japanese team, which have already represented in the World Club Championship twice in 2014 and 2015

Hisamitsu Springs were offensively strong with the likes of powerful left-hander Miyu Nagaoka, Yuki Ishii and Risa Shinnabe, all of them the major forces who helped Hisamitsu down Taiwan Power in thrilling five sets in the semi-finals the previous day, while three national Thailand players consisting of Wilavan Apinyapong, Pleumjit Thinkaow and Pornpun Guedpard strengthened Bangkok Glass.

Both teams came up in full force with aggression and gutsy show. Bangkok Glass took the hard-fought first set 25-22 before Hisamitsu Springs stormed back to win the second set 25-20. The Japanese held a 2-1 advantage following their sensational 25-23 win in the hotly-contested third set and the Thais were just never-say-die, pouring everything to win the fourth set 25-22.

The thrilling decider saw Bangkok Glass perform superbly to get off to a brilliant start with a wide margin 11-3 lead. Spirited Hisamitsu put their acts together, gathering their courage for point-by-point attempts to reduce the gap at 10-14. Hot on the Thai heels, the Japanese side won two crucial points to move a bit closer to Bangkok Glass 12-14. However, Hisamitsu Springs’ title defence dreams were completely shattered when a thundering spike from Bangkok Glass went unanswered. The Thais won the deciding set 15-11, the championship and the lone ticket to contest the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.

Pleumjit Thinkaow led Bangkok Glass with 18 points including 14 kills from 31 attempts, while Miyu Nagaoka scored a match-high 24 points for Hisamitsu Springs including 22 deadly attacks from 50 attempts.

“I’m very happy that my team won the Asian title. It’s beyond my initial expectation. I’ve never thought before that we will have the moment of victory. Hisamitsu Springs are very strong and to beat them is not that easy. However, my players have already proved that if we don’t give up, anything can happen. After trailing 1-2 sets, we tried our best to win the fourth set. Everyone gave it all out and helped one another to attack, block and serve and our attempts paid its dividends after that when we won the set. In the decider, we did a great job to lead with a wide margin, but the Japanese fought hard and challenged us seriously. I was almost shocked when Hisamitsu Springs came close. Fortunately, we hit back to win the match. I would like to thank all my players and our supporters for our great win today,” Bangkok Glass’ head coach Kittipong Pornchartyingcheep commented after the match.

Formidable Zhejiang thrash smaller-built Taiwan Power in convincing straight sets to finish third place

China League champions Zhejiang, which made their debut effort in this top-flight tournament, had to be content with the third place as they overwhelmed Taiwan Power from Chinese Taipei with their excellent teamwork and form, winning the third-place playoff in victorious style 25-14 25-15 25-15.

Zhejiang and Taiwan Power proved their invincible form by not going down to any rival en route to their semi-finals on Saturday. However, the bitter loss that day did matter significantly as it smashed their dreams of making the cut for the Sunday’s final showdown, with Zhejiang losing 2-3 to Thailand’s Bangkok Glass and Taiwan Power succumbing the similar defeat at the hands of title-holders Hisamitsu Springs.

Talented Li Jing led the Chinese attacks in the first set to help Zhejiang take an initial 9-0 lead before Taiwan Power successfully broke the jinx 1-9 and held their nerves to reduce the gap 10-16. Deadly left-hander Chen Wan-Ting and Wu Shu-Fen combined well to puncture the Chinese defence with their heavy attacks, but Zhejiang seemingly played every part of the game well to continue their remarkable form and take the lop-sided set 25-14.

Zhejiang still took total control in the second set, playing exceptionally well to foil Taiwan Power’s efforts of fighting back. The mighty Chinese wrapped up the set 25-15, again without much trouble.

Taiwan Power tried harder in the third set, hoping to make a comeback. Nevertheless, their intention did not bear fruits as the Chinese upped their tempo and stormed back devastatingly to win the set 25-15, the comfortable match and the third place.

Li Jing led Zhejiang with 22 points including 18 kills and three blocks, while Wu Wei-Hua collected eight points or Taiwan Power.

Zhetyssu claim 5th place after annihilating 4.25 Sports Club in comfortable straight-set win

Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu, which finished third in the previous edition last year, finished a below-par fifth place this time following a scintillating 25-18 25-19 25-22 victory over DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club in the 5th-6th playoff.

Zhetyssu remained in their tall and powerful line-up led by the 195cm Tatyana Mudritskaya and hard-attacking Victoria Yemiayanchyk, while the Koreans were spearheaded by Jong Jin Sim and Ju Un Hyang, who respectively won the MVP and the best opposite spiker awards at the recent VTV Cup Women’s International Tournament in Bac Lieu, Vietnam.

As Mudritskaya overcame the small blockers with her fierce attacks, Olga Nassedkina and Mudritskaya performed an impenetrable defence, allowing the Koreans difficulties in attacking. Zhetyssu took the first two sets 25-18 25-19. The 4.25 Sports Club hit back in the third set when the Kazakhs became prone with attacking attempts. Leading narrowly 18-16, Zhetyssu stretched it to 23-21 and from then on went on their impressive form to clinch the hard-fought set 25-22, the match and the fifth place.

Olga Nassedkina led Zhetyssu with 17 points comprising nine attack hits and eight stuff blocks. Corinna Ishimtseve led the serving skill with three ace serves. Jong Jin Sim scored a match-high 19 points for 4.25 Sports Club including 16 kills and two great serves.

Hosts Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank brush off Petron Blaze Spikers in close four sets to take 7th place

Vietnam’s Thong Tin Linvietpost Bank, which have yet won a match en route to their last encounter on Sunday, tasted their first and last victory in this top-flight competition after pulling off a hard-fought four-set 26-24 27-25 24-26 25-20 win over the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix winners Petron Blaze Spikers. The host side played well in front of a large number of cheering home crowds inside the competition venue. As the hosts had major forces in their team including the 186cm-tall Bui Thi Nga, who used her height advantage to attack aggressively, and hard-attacking Pham Thi Yen, the visitors fielded two imported players from Brazil, Furtado Rupia Inck Freitas and Adachi Erika Pivetta. However, Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank fared better to win the first two sets 26-24 27-25. The third set saw Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank let the victory slip through their fingers. The hosts led commandingly 24-20, needing only one more point to win the set and the match, but Petron Blaze Spikers fought back bravely to win consecutive six points to take the set 26-24.

The fourth set was almost similar to the third when the hosts initially led 23-13, but could not close the match. Petron Blaze Spikers gradually pulled their game together to come close at 20-23. Fortunately, Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank came back in time to win straight two points for the set win 25-20, the match and the seventh place.

Bui Thi Nga amassed 22 points for Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank including 15 kills from 32 attacks, while Rachel-Anne Daquis led Petron Blaze Spikers with 16 points, 13 of them through her powerful hits.

FINAL RESULTS

7th-8th playoff: Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) b Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines) 3-1 (26-24 27-25 24-26 25-20)

5th-6th playoff: Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan) b 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) 3-0 (25-18 25-19 25-22)

Third-place playoff: Zhejiang (China) b Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei) 3-0 (25-14 25-15 25-15)

Championship match: Bangkok Glass (Thailand) b Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan) 3-2 (25-22 20-25 23-25 25-22 15-12)

TEAM RANKING

1. Bangkok Glass (Thailand) …Qualified for the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship

2. Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan)

3. Zhejiang (China)

4. Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei)

5. Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan)

6. 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea)

7. Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam)

8. Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines)

9. Islamic Azad University (Iran)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Most Valuable Player: Pleumjit Thinkaow (Bangkok Glass)

Best Setter: Pornpun Guedpard (Bangkok Glass)

Best Outside Spikers: Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs) and Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs)

Best Middle Blockers: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa (Bangkok Glass) and Yang Zhou (Zhejiang)

Best Opposite Spiker: Chen Wan-Ting (Taiwan Power)

Best Libero: Tikamporn Changkeaw (Bangkok Glass)

BG set up final showdown with title-holders Hisamitsu in Asian Women’s Club Championship, fighting for World Club ticket.

Bangkok Glass celebrate their stunning victory over China League champions Zhejiang.
Zhejiang’s Li Jing spikes past Bangkok Glass’ blockers.
Taiwan Power’s Lee Tzu-Ying attacks Hisamitsu Springs.
Hitsamitsu Springs’ Miyu Nagaoka drops over the Taiwan Power’s blocker.
BG set up final showdown with title-holders Hisamitsu in Asian Women’s Club Championship, fighting for World Club ticket.

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Ha Nam, Vietnam, September 19, 2015 – In-form Bangkok Glass stunned China League winners Zhejiang in pulsating five sets to go up against reigning champions Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs in final showdown of the 2015 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, the qualification for the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.

Bangkok Glass, which captured two major titles in Thailand the previous season consisting the Thailand League and the Super League, overpowered unbeaten Zhejiang 25-14 17-25 25-23 19-25 15-9 in the Saturday’s semi-finals at the Ha Nam Gymnasium, while Japan’s Hisamitsu Springs produced a magnificent comeback 23-25 26-28 25-10 25-11 15-4 victory over undefeated Taiwan Power from Chinese Taipei in the other semi-final encounter.

The Bangkok Glass-Zhejiang clash turned out to be a see-saw battle, with the former taking the first and third sets and the latter the second and fourth sets. In the thrilling tie-breaker, the Thai team, fielding three national Thailand players consisting of Wilavan Apinyapong, Pleumjit Thinkaow and setter Pornpun Gurdpard, fared better, while the Chinese became more prone with their spiking attempts. The Bangkok Glass team won the decider and a final berth.

After the match, the Zhejiang’s players left the competing venue with heads low in great despair, while Bangkok Glass’ players jumped for joy, hugged one another and danced around the court. Staff coaches were also in jubilation with the stunning win over the Chinese. It was a new chapter of Thailand volleyball history that a Thai women’s club, not the national Thailand team, has come this far since the tournament’s inception in 1999.

Jutarat Montripila scored a match-high 19 points including 16 kills for Bangkok Glass, while Li Jing led Zhejiang with 29 points including 26 kills from 61 attempts.

“I can’t believe my eyes that my team will play well beyond my expectation. I would like to thank everyone who played a good part in helping win this match. I also would like to thank all supporters,the Bangkok Glass’ president and all executive members of the club,” said a happy Kittipong Pornchartyingcheep, head coach of Bangkok Glass, after the match, ahead of the following encounter between Taiwan Power and Hisamitsu.

“The Chinese also performed their upmost because they, I think, did not want to go down in straight sets or 1-3 loss to us. They had to do their best and we did the same thing. I tried my best to read the Chinese game and change several tactics against them. We have nothing to lose in the final showdown. Anything can happen in that match. Reaching the final means a historic success of the Bangkok Glass team and we don’t fear any rival no matter which team we will play in the showdown – the Japanese or the Taiwanese teams. We will try our best,” he added.

Bangkok Glass will challenge defending champions Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs in the Sunday’s final at 8pm local time. The Japanese side struggled to hit their form in the Saturday’s semi-final clash, recovering from the first two-set loss 23-25 26-28 to win the remaining three sets with ease 25-10 25-11 15-4.

Brilliant Risa Shinnabe scored a match-high 27 points for Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs including 22 kills from 44 attempts. Miyu Nagaoka assisted with 18 kills, while Chen Wan-Ting led Taiwan Power with 18 points.

“Tatjana Bokan has targeted from her serving and we could not forward from her style. We had a little bit change of players in the third set, their mind and they really did their best and we then could win the match. The key point for our win is setter Ayano Nakaoji. She is using quick with various combination styles of volleyball. Against the Thai team in the final, I think Thailand are more quick with combinations. We have to think more about serving and we have to win,” Yoichi Koto, head coach of the Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs, commented after the match.

Meanwhile, the 5th-8th playoffs saw Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu, which finished third in the previous edition last year in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, breeze past the Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix champions Petron Blaze Spikers in comfortable clash 25-17-25-18 25-20 and DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club prove a cut above Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank to beat the host side in a hard-fought three-set thriller 25-22 25-21 25-21. On Sunday, Zhetyssu will take on 4.25 Sports Club in the 5th-6th playoff and Petron Blaze Spikers battle it out with winless Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank of Vietnam for the seventh position.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS

Bangkok Glass (Thailand) b Zhejiang (China) 3-2 (25-14 17-25 25-23 19-25 15-9)

Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan) b Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei) 3-2 (23-25 26-28 25-10 25-11 15-4)

5th-8th PLAYOFFS

4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) b Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) 3-0 (25-22 25-21 25-21)

Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan) b Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines) 3-0 (25-17 25-18 25-20)

MATCH SCHEDULE (all local times)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2015

2pm: 7th-8th playoff: Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) v Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines)

4pm: 5th-6th playoff: 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) v Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan)

6pm: Third-play playoff: Zhejiang (China) v Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei)

8pm: Championship match: Bangkok Glass (Thailand) v Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan)

Bangkok Glass join Hisamitsu, Taiwan Power, Zhejiang in semi-finals of Asian Women’s Club Championship in Vietnam

Ha Nam, Vietnam, September 18, 2015 – Reigning champions Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs take on Taiwan Power from Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Bangkok Glass go up against China League champions Zhejiang in Saturday’s do-or-die semi-finals of the 2015 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Ha Nam Gymnasium.

On the Friday’s quarter-finals, Hisamitsu Springs, questing for their three Asian Women’s Club titles, put on an exceptional performance to annihilate Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu in thrilling straight sets 25-18 25-20 25-23, while Taiwan Power pulled off a convincing 25-20 25-16 25-9 victory over the Philippines Super Liga Grand Prix champions Petron Blaze Spikers.

The other two matches saw China League champions Zhejiang storm their ways into the semi-finals after putting it past hapless hosts Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank in a comfortable lop-sided battle 25-16 25-15 25-12 and Thailand League champions Bangkok Glass power past DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club in pulsating four sets 25-18 25-15 22-25 25-23.

Hisamitsu Springs, which have already represented Asia twice in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship in 2014 and 2015, fielded the similar line-up which outclassed DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club in straight sets in their preliminary match. They included southpaw Miyu Nagaoka, Nana Iwasaka and Risa Shinnabe, resting imported Tatjana Bokan from Montenegro for the whole match. Zhetyssu sent in tall and towering players led by the 195cm-tall Tatyana Mudritskaya, Olga Nassedkina and Katerina Tatko.

Hisamitsu Springs comfortably took the first set 25-18 in their crucial quarter-final clash against the much taller Zhetyssu, but struggled to clinch the next two sets 25-20 25-23.

Left-hander Miyu Nagaoka led Hisamiitsu Seiyaku Springs with 20 points, 17 of them through her deadly attacks from 28 attempts. Risa Shinnabe assisted with 13 kills. Olga Nasedkina collected seven points for Zhetyssu.

“The Kazakhs are very tall and we found it very difficult to spike. Additionally, we made a lot of mistakes. Fortunately, we did a good job on service and we could adjust the tone of the game. We did well after that. In the third set,we suffered on receiving. We did not play our style. Against Taiwan Power in the semi-finals, I admit that they are very quick, but we will try to improve on our defence and find out how to get points in the game. We will do our best,” Koto Yoichi, head coach of Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs, commented after the match.

Unlike Hisamitsu, Taiwan Power on Friday faced an easier job against Petron Blaze Spikers when they showed no mercy to the Philippine side to thrash them in a one-sided battle 25-20 25-16 25-9 victory.

Chang Chen-Yi led Taiwan Power with 15 points including 14 kills from 24 attempts, while Abigail Marano collected seven points for Petron Blaze Spikers.

“We did not play well. Our team’s tempo was not good and that’s why our start was far from expectation in the first two sets. Petron Blaze Spikers also did not play well, while my team  dropped from our best. Our next match is likely to be against Japan’s Hisamitsu Springs, which are very  strong. However, if we happen to lose in that match,  it’s still okay if we perform well up to our standard. In this match against Petron Blaze Spikers, Chen Wan-Ting can be our best spiker, while Wu Shu-Fen is the best middle blocker of our team. We now have to go back for more training in preparation for the next tough match against the Japanese team,” said Lin Ming-Hui, head coach of Taiwan Power.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Zhejiang put it past Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank in straight sets 25-16 25-15 25-12. Li Jing led Zhejiang with 14 points including 11 kills from 29 attempts. Qiu Yanan assisted with nine kills. Yang Zhou had four stuff blocks and Wang Huimin collected three. Wang also bagged another three points from ace serves. Bui Thi Nga won seven points for Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank.

“We played well in this match against the hosts. It’s an easy match. In the first set, my players felt a little bit nervous and they could not play that well. We next take on Thailand. The Thais  had comprehensive skills, but they are not strong enough. I think we are much stronger than them,” said a confident Wu Sheng, head coach of Zhejiang, after the match.

In the semi-finals, Zhejiang will play Bangkok Glass, which on Friday pulled off a dramatic 25-18 25-15 22-25 25-23 win over DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club.

Wilavan Apinyapong scored a match-high 18 points including 15 kills for Bangkok Glass. Pleumjit Thinkaow assisted with 11 points. Jong Jin Sim led 4.25 Sports Club with 20 points including 18 kills from 53 attempts.

“We dropped our form in the third set. My players underestimated the rivals. They might think that it was too easy winning the first two sets. I’m so afraid that if we have to play them in the fifth set, we might go down again as we faced the similar situation as we did in the crucial match against Chinese Taipei’s Taiwan Power. Fortunately, we served well and improved on our blocking attempts. Now, I’m so happy that we won this match because we have already fulfilled our target of making it to the semi-finals. If we happen to beat China’s Zhejiang in the semi-finals, that’s our benefit. We have to make a good plan in the next tough match against the Chinese,” commented Bangkok Glass’ head coach Kittipong Pornchartyingcheep.

The competition will run through Sunday, the final day of the nine-day championship which will guarantee the eventual winners the lone ticket from Asia to contest the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

QUARTER-FINALS

Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei) b Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines) 3-0 (25-20 25-16 25-9)

Zhejiang (China) b Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) 3-0 (25-16 25-15 25-12)

Bangkok Glass (Thailand) b 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) 3-1 (25-18 25-15 22-25 25-23)

Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan) b Zhetyssu (Kzaakhstan) 3-0 (25-18 25-20 25-3)

MATCH SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

2pm: 5th-8th playoffs: Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines) v Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan)

4pm: Semi-finals: Bangkok Glass (Thailand) v Zhejiang (China)

6pm: 5th-8th playoffs: Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) v 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea)

8pm: Semi-finals: Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei) v Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan)