Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, July 18, 2018 – Thailand’s Supreme survived a thrilling tie-break against Japan’s NEC Red Rockets 3-2 (13-25, 25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 16-14) to win in Wednesday’s championship match at the SMM 2018 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Ust-Kamenogorsk’s Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace.
Thailand’s Supreme retained their crown (after winning the 2017 edition) with stellar performances by Chatchu-On Moksri and Ajcharaporn Kongyot, each scoring 21 points.
Earlier, China’s Jiangsu Zhongtian Steel bagged bronze with an equally riveting tie-breaker against Kazakhstan’s Altay 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 17-25, 15-12). Zhou Xinyi posted a 24-point performance, including 17 spikes, six blocks and a service ace.
Indonesia’s Garuda grabbed fifth place in the competition after beating Iran’s Paykan 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-19). Aprilia Manganang was the best scorer of the match, with 23 points from 19 attacks, three blocks and a service winner.
Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An secured 7th place in straight sets against Chinese Taipei’s CMFC 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-16). Captain Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa was the top scorer with 18 points from 13 attacks, four blocks and a service ace. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy contributed 16 more points.
Final ranking
1. Supreme (Thailand)
2. NEC Red Rockets (Japan)
3. Jiangsu Zhongtian Steel (China)
4. Altay (Kazakhstan)
5. Garuda (Indonesia)
6. Paykan (Iran)
7. VTV Binh Dien Long An (Vietnam)
8. CMFC (Chinese Taipei)
9. Lanka Lions (Sri Lanka)
Individual awardsBest Outside Spiker: Ajcharaporn Kongyot of Supreme (Thailand)
Second Best Outside Spiker: Olga Drobyshevskaya of Altay (Kazakhstan)
Best Middle Blocker: Natalia Sharshakova of Altay (Kazakhstan)
Second Best Middle Blocker: Wang Chenyue of Jiangsu Zhongtian Steel (China)
Best Opposite: Nanami Hirose of NEC Red Rockets (Japan)
Best Setter: Rong Wangqianbai of Jiangsu Zhongtian Steel (China)
Best Libero: Sayaka Iwasaki of NEC Red Rockets (Japan)
Most Valuable Player: Ajcharaporn Kongyot of Supreme (Thailand)