Fired-up China stopped the Iran’s invincibility by pulling off a dramatic 3-1 (25-18 25-14 13-25 31-29) victory over the defending two-time champions to reign supreme in the 3rd AVC Cup for Men at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium on Friday.
In a 2010 final rematch, the FIVB world No. 15 China and old foes Iran, the team they suffered a bitter 2-3 loss in the pool preliminaries earlier, started almost with the same style, using their amazing power and exceptional skills.
However, China performed superbly to push the Iran’s aggression to the limit. The formidable Chinese took the thrilling first set 25-18.
Their confidence went sky-high following the remarkable win in the opener and China still took control in the second set, with hefty Dai Qingyao producing lightning-fast spikes to gain valuable points for his team in some critical moments. Despite putting up a brave fight, Iran failed to make their mark to go down 14-25 in the set.
Cheered on by nerve-wracking, noisy crowds of more than 2,000 who apparently threw in their full supports to Iran, the Asia’s powerhouses came to life in the third set. The 210cm Mohammad Hassan Senobar, the tournament’s tallest player, and Ali Sajjadi were the Iran’s comeback when both scored several points from their devastating spikes.
Learning that the Iranians proved too strong in this set, Chinese head coach Xie Guochen decided to rest his best players and replace them with substitutions including Ji Daoshuai and Cui Jianjun. With the drastically-improved teamwork, Iran captured the one-sided battle 25-13.
The fourth set became more thrilling when both teams were locked in a tight battle. Iran got off to a confident start to lead 10-6, thanks to great serves of Mahammadreza Soleymani and effective blocking from Mohammad Hassan Senobar and Alireza Jadidi.
Dai Qingyao silenced the Iran’s cheering supporters with his spectacular spikes to help his team come close at 13-15. From then, it was like a “catch me if you can” game when Iran attempted hard to hold the rivals off and China sped up to move ahead.
Mohammad Hassan Senobar and Mohammadreza Soleymani blocked Chinese Zhong Weijun for the Iran’s 23-22 lead, but a short time later Dai Qingyao attacked the Iranian blockers to tie it 23-23. Dai himself served out wide, allowing the rivals a set point. However, Zhong Weijun executed a deadly spike to save the day for China. The scores were tied again at 24-24.
From then on, the battle turned out to be a heart-pounding match when both sides gave it all-out to win the set. At 29-29, a serve from Alireza Jadidi went wide, giving the Chinese another match-point to try. Dai Qingyao and Liang Chunlong solidly blocked Mohammad Hassan Senobar to put the icing on the victory cake of China. The Chinese captured the exhausting set 31-29 and the historic championship.
Zhang Chen scored a match-high 22 points for China, while Ali Sajjadi topscored 19 points for Iran.
Zhang Chen scored a match-high 22 points for China, while Ali Sajjadi topscored 19 points for Iran.
After the match, the Chinese players celebrated their victory by having their hands over ones’ shoulders and ran cheerfully into a circle. They shouted in great joy and helped lift head coach Xie Guochen and throw him into the air.
The victory was a sweet revenge for China, which lost to Iran in the final showdown of the 2010 AVC Cup for Men and the 2011 Asian Championship, both held in Iran.
The victory also stopped the remarkable winning streak of the consecutive two-time winners Iranians and carried China to the victory podium for the first time in history of the AVC Cup for Men.
Japan stun India in a magnificent come-from-behind victory to finish third place
The FIVB world No.19 and the Guangzhou Asian Games winners Japan returned with great despair following the eighth-place finish from the previous edition two years ago. This time, they set a higher target in Vinh Phuc – to stand in the top-three podium. Their dreams were eventually fulfilled on Friday.
The FIVB world No.19 and the Guangzhou Asian Games winners Japan returned with great despair following the eighth-place finish from the previous edition two years ago. This time, they set a higher target in Vinh Phuc – to stand in the top-three podium. Their dreams were eventually fulfilled on Friday.
In the third-place playoff against India, things initially turned sour for the Japanese side when they lost their touch to go down 16-25 in the first set.
Japan, powered by ace spiker Takashi Dekita, jumped to a 16-9 lead in the second set. As India became more prone with attacking and service errors, Japan seized the chance to attack relentlessly.
India tried to pull their game together, with smashing machine Gurinder Singh attacking powerfully from the mid-court. However, their attempts were in vain when Japan remained in top form, overpowering the taller blockers with fast spikes at the post. Japan took the set 25-18.
The Japanese still controlled the game marvelously well in the third and fourth sets. They put on a brilliant form to spike, block and serve to foil the rivals’ counter-attacking efforts. After a long rally, Japan were on cloud nine when they won 25-20-25-21 to eventually beat India 3-1 for the third place.
Takashi Dekita led Japan with 23 points, 20 of them from explosive kills, while Gurinder Singh bagged the highest 15 points for India.
Korea struggle to beat fighting hosts in action-packed 5th-6th place playoff
Determined Korea, the third place at the last year’s Asian meet in Tehran, Iran, played Vietnam with a high hope of regaining their pride lost in the quarter-finals.
There, the Koreans failed their mission on making the cut for the semi-finals following the disappointing 2-3 loss to India. In the 5th-6th playoff on Friday, the Koreans pulled off a scintillating 25-22 25-18 25-19 victory over the host side.
Against the fast-improving Vietnam, the team they had beaten in closely-contested three sets in the pool preliminaries, Korea fielded substitutions including Sim Kyoung-Sub and Park Jin-Woo to give them a chance to obtain international experience and exposure.
The Koreans opened up an attack game, with terrific Song Myung-Geun exploding thundering back-row spikes in an effort of foiling the rivals’ blocking abilities. Vietnam put on a brave fightback to challenge the speedy visitors seriously. Still, Korea had enough left in the tank to hold them off. The first set was won by the Koreans 25-22.
In the error-filled second set, while Vietnam were leading 8-7, the Control Committee members on duty found the position fault in the Vietnamese side. As a result, the hosts suffered the points deduction and had to restart from trailing 0-8 instead. As expected, Korea took the second set 25-18.
Vietnam still faced the similar fate in the third set. When both sides were tied at 1-1, it was found again that the host team had a position fault and had to suffer the points deduction. Korea led 2-0 and stretched it to 12-7, thanks to the excellent offensive combination between Song Myung-Geun’s non-stop onslaughts.
Holding a 22-17 lead, Korea advanced 24-18. They allowed the host team only one more point before Son Hyun-Jong produced a lightning mid-court spike to win the set 25-19 and the encounter.
Song Myung-Geun scored the highest 18 points for Korea, while Bui Van Hai led Vietnam with13 points, all of them from deadly attacks.
Song Myung-Geun scored the highest 18 points for Korea, while Bui Van Hai led Vietnam with13 points, all of them from deadly attacks.
With the victory, Korea finished fifth overall, while hosts Vietnam came in sixth place in this tournament.
Young Aussies thrash underdogs Myanmar in convincing straight sets to finish seventh
A clash among the two winless teams, Australia and Myanmar, saw the in-form former fare much better than the laclustrous latter, tactically and technically. Aussies finished seventh in this top-flight tournament following the sensational 25-22 25-21 25-17 win.
Australia, the current FIVB world No.11 which finished fifth in the previous episode in Urmia, Iran two years ago, fielded a young, inexperienced team preparing for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Three of them experienced the London Games including Luke Smith and setter Grigory Sukochev.
The Australians, whose height average is 199cm against the rivals’ 186cm, took the height advantage in blunting the Myanmar’s fierce attacks led by Win Thun Oo and Aung Myat Tun. Australia captured the first two sets 25-22 25-21.
Myanmar tried to make amends in the third set, with hard-attacking Aung Myat Tun overpowering the much taller blockers with his difficult spikes. However, the rhythm remained with Aussies, who shone through their talents beyond their years. Australia won the set 25-17, the match and the seventh place. Myanmar lost all their matches in this tournament to finish eighth place overall.
Aung Myat Tun scored a match-high 13 points for Myanmar, while the top scorer of Australia went to Sam Walker, who bagged 14 points.
In the awards presentation, newly-crowned champions China won the prestigious AVC Cup plus gold medals and bouquets of flowers. Runners-up Iran and Japan were also presented with trophies, medals and flowers. The three teams and the audience in the venue stood up for the China’s National Anthem. Team players then opened for photo opportunities.
Friday’s Finals
7th-8th playoff: Australia b Myanmar 3-0 (25-22 25-21 25-17)
5th-6th playoff: Korea b Vietnam 3-0 (25-22 25-18 25-19)
Third-place playoff: Japan b India 3-1 (16-25 25-18 25-20 25-21)
Championship match: China b Iran 3-1 (25-18 25-14 13-25 31-29)
7th-8th playoff: Australia b Myanmar 3-0 (25-22 25-21 25-17)
5th-6th playoff: Korea b Vietnam 3-0 (25-22 25-18 25-19)
Third-place playoff: Japan b India 3-1 (16-25 25-18 25-20 25-21)
Championship match: China b Iran 3-1 (25-18 25-14 13-25 31-29)
Final Rankings
1. China
2. Iran
3. Japan
4. India
5. Korea
6. Vietnam
7. Australia
8. Myanmar
1. China
2. Iran
3. Japan
4. India
5. Korea
6. Vietnam
7. Australia
8. Myanmar
Individual Awards
Best Spiker: Zhong Weijun (China)
Best Setter: Hideomi Fukatsu (Japan)
Best Blocker: Alireza Jadidi (Iran)
Best Server: Taher Vadi M. (Iran)
Best Scorer: Gurinder Singh (India)
Best Libero: Kong Fanwei (China)
MVP: Zhan Guojun (China)
Best Spiker: Zhong Weijun (China)
Best Setter: Hideomi Fukatsu (Japan)
Best Blocker: Alireza Jadidi (Iran)
Best Server: Taher Vadi M. (Iran)
Best Scorer: Gurinder Singh (India)
Best Libero: Kong Fanwei (China)
MVP: Zhan Guojun (China)
from AVC
