Thailand, Korea top respective groups at end of AVC pool stages

Photo from asianvolleyball.net

BIÑAN, Laguna—Powerhouse Thailand and Korea breezed through their respective opponents in the final day of the group stages and advanced to the quarterfinals with unblemished records.

The Koreans were the first ones to advance to the next stage after upending Vietnam in four sets 25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 25-22, in the opener Friday at Alonte Sports Arena here.

Ace spiker Kim Yeon-koung, after resting out the first two games of the tournament, stepped through in the clutch for the Koreans as a fourth set substitute and put up five points in just 10 minutes.

“I think we played well in the first two sets, then in the third set we had a problem,” said Kim as they topped Pool C with a 3-0 card. “We didn’t have a leader but we still won so it’s good.”

Kim had to sit out the first two games as she just played in the FIVB Grand Prix that lasted nearly a month from July 7 until August 6.

Yang Hyojin had a team-high 15 points to lead Korea while Kim Heejin and Kim Suji had a dozen points apiece.

Tran Thi Thanh Thuy put up a game-high 25 points to lead the also quarterfinals-bound Vietnamese to a 2-1 record

In the second game, Thailand made quick work of Chinese-Taipei, 26-24, 25-14, 25-15, to top Pool D with a 3-0 record.

Chatchu-on Moksri led the Thais with 20 points while Wilavan Apinyapong and Hattaya Barmrungsuk added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

Tseng Wan-Ling led Chinese-Taipei with 11 points as they finish the group stages with a 2-1 record en route to the quarterfinals.