AVC Cup: Vietnam nears sweep of pool stage, upends Kazakhstan

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024

Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen in the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 against Kazakhstan. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen erupted for 30 points to put defending champion Vietnam on the verge of sweeping Pool B after beating Kazakhstan, 25-14, 25-19, 14-25, 25-23, in the AVC Challenge Cup on Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Tuyen closed out the fourth set with 10 points to finish the game with 26 kills, three blocks, and an ace to keep the Vietnamese unbeaten in three games sans tournament MVP Tran Thi Thanh Thuy.

“We didn’t have a game against Kazakhstan for a long time, like six years. This time, when we played against them they were really tall and strong so they were a little bit intimidating. But our team did pretty well today. I’m very proud,” said Thuy, who was in uniform but sat out.

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Vietnam avoided a fifth set after Tuyen’s game-winning attack denied Kazakhstan’s last-ditch effort in the fourth, where it turned a 24-21 deficit into a one-point game behind the clutch attack or Zhanna Syroyeshkina and Kristina Anikonova’s block.

Le Thanh Thuy chipped in nine points for the Vietnamese, who also drew eight points each from Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh and Nguyen Thi Trinh.

Vietnam seeks to sweep the group and clinch the top seed against Indonesia on Sunday at 10:00 a.m

Team captain Sana Anarkulova powered the Kazakhs with 21 points, was Yuliya Yakimova contributed 12 points as they dropped to a 1-1 record.

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Meanwhile, Aytak Salamatgharamaleki fired 22 kills for 23 points as Iran entered the win column with a 24-26, 25-20, 25-18, 28-26 victory over Chinese Taipei.

Iran improved to 1-1 in Pool A ahead of its crucial game against Alas Pilipinas on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Elaheh Poorsaleh was also instrumental in Iran’s bounce-back win with  18 points, while Reyhane Karimi added 11

“It was necessary to keep calm. We do not have much experience, but now that we’re in our second match, we watched their movements and we listened to all what coach said,” Iran setter Dorsa Fallahkordkheli said.

“Most of our members are young. We develop our experience every match so that we can improve. We believe in ourselves and we try to be better every game.”

Chinese Taipei fell to the brink of elimination after remaining winless in three games despite Hsu Fang-Min’s 21-point effort.

Lin Liang-Tai and Huang Chun-Jia had 11 points apiece as Chinese Taipei wraps up its Pool A campaign against Alas on Sunday.

Indonesia (1-1) has entered the win column in Pool B with a 25-14, 25-13, 25-14 rout of Singapore (0-3).

Bela Sabrina led the collective effort of the Indonesians with 15 points. Junaida Santi chipped in 12 points, while Nur Putri Agustin added 11 points.