truebluefan

Thailand’s long-awaited dreams ended on Monday when Federbrau stunned defending and three-time champions Tianjin Bridgestone from China to capture the crown for the first time in the 2009 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.

The host side avenged Tianjin, the team they lost 2-3 in the final showdown in the previous edition in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam last year, in a heart-pounding five-set thriller 27-25 20-25 25-19 18-25 15-7.

The Thai girls made their debut attempt in the annual tournament since its inception in 1999 and, they had never won the title. The Thai girls also finished second in 2002, 2007 and 2008. For Thailand, the long-cherished dreams were fulfilled just on Monday.

The Thai team, cheered on lustily by a large crowd of more than 3,500 home fans packing the Nakhon Pathom Sport Center Gym, came out full strength against the Chinese powerhouse, whose height average is 184cm against the host side’s 177cm.

It was a close battle in the opening set, but Federbrau performed more superbly to race to the 24-22 lead, thanks to Onuma Sittirak’s terrific jump serves. However, Tianjin regained their composure to hit back mightily, saving three set-points before the Thai girls stormed on to win the hard-fought affair 27-25.

Tianjin came to life in the second set when the home team became more prone with spiking and blocking errors. The Chinese regrouped and started to produce the goods. As expected, Tianjin clinched the second set 25-20.

The host girls still rolled on their exceptional form in the third set. They spiked, boosted and served well, fighting for crucial points. Their determination bore fruits well as they eventually took the set 25-19.

Tianjin counter-attacked well to claim the fourth set 25-19, but the Thai girls, led by hard-hitting Pleumjit Thinkaow, were just never-say-die. As the Thai team led commandingly 10-7, Pleumjit scored successive five points from her powerful jump serves to capture the decider 15-7 and the championship.

“It’s like a dream come true. Everyone did a great job. I thanked all home supporters who always boosted us in critical moments. The Chinese also played well, especially on their serves. However, my girls just read their attack game well,” Thai head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai commented.

“After this, we will relax to relieve the muscular tension and will continue tough training in preparation for the World Championship Qualification second round Asia Pool C, especially the tough match against Chinese Taipei. As far as I see, Pleumjit is our heroine for the victory. She performed exceptionally well,” he added.

In the bronze-medal match between Toray Arrows, the consecutive two-time Japanese Premier League champions who finished third last year, and taller Zhetyssu from Kazakhstan, whose height average is 183cm against the rivals’ 176cm, the Japanese girls narrowly beat the Kazakhs with the emphatic 25-22 22-25 14-25 25-18 15-9 win.

In the classification round earlier, Taipei from Chinese Taipei struggled hard to beat Iran’s Saipa in exhausting five sets 25-22 25-18 21-25 20-25 15-13 to finish seventh place.

The 5th-6th play-off between Vietnam’s Sport Center and Sobaeksu from P.R. Korea also turned out to be a see-saw battle. After salvaging a 2-2 draw, Sobaeksu came full force to dominate the tie-breaker 25-18 25-27 25-21 18-25 15-9.

Final Standing
1. Federbrau (Thailand), 2. Tianjin Bridgestone (China),3. Toray Arrows (Japan), 4. Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan), 5. Sobaeksu (P.R. Korea), 6. Sport Center (Vietnam), 7. Taipei (Chinese Taipei), 8. Saipa (Iran), 9. Skif (Uzbekistan), 10. Petrokimia Gresik (Indonesia), 11. Afghanistan

Individual Awards
Best Spiker: Onuma Sittirak (Thailand’s Federbrau)
Best Scorer: Chen Liyi (China’s Tianjin Bridgestone)
Best Blocker: Olga Nassedkina (Kazakhstan’s Zhetyssu)
Best Server: Nootsara Tomkom (Thailand’s Federbrau)
Best Setter: Yu Jing (China’s Tianjin Bridgestone)
Best Libero Player: Wanna Buakaow (Thailand’s Federbrau)
Most Valuable Player: Onuma Sittirak (Thailand’s Federbrau)

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