Manila, Philippines, August 17, 2017 – Japan clinched their forth Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship title in history after coming from the first two-set down 26-28, 20-25 to overpower Thailand in the remaining three sets 25-16, 25-16,15-7 in the final match at the Alonte Sports Arena on Thursday.
Thailand aimed to win their third Asian crown in a four-year time, heading the final showdown on high note with a stunning straight-set win over the Incheon Asian Games winners Korea in the semi-finals.
Against the tough rivals, both team shown up with their strongest line-up, Thailand captain Pleumjit Thinkaow and highly-skilled setter Nootsara Tomkom are the leader of the team. Japan were also strong with the likes of hard-attacking Risa Shinnabe and Rika Nomoto.
In the first and second set, Thailand made their remarkable run to win. With Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Pimpichaya Kokram and Chatchu-on Moksri methodically tearing the Japan defence into shreds, Thailand caught fire to win the heart-pounding first set 28-26 and continued their devastating attacks to take the second set.
The third and fourth sets turned out to be lop-sided affairs when Japan regained their composure and hit back mightily to win comfortably 25-16 25-16.
In the tie-breaker, Japan played with determination and consistency to win the deciding set 15-7 and the championship, fourth time in history. Japan have already captured the Asian title for three times in 1975 in Melbourne, Australia, 1983 in Fukuoka, Japan and 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
In the Bronze medal match, Korea rout China 3-0. Kim Her-Jin finished with 16 points and Park Jeong Ah added 13 and Kim Keon-Koung had eight markers for Korea, which avenged their loss to China in the Finals of the 2015 edition in Tianjin, China.
SMM 19th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship
Final Standings:
1.Japan
2.Thailand
3.Korea
4.China
5.Vietnam
6.Chinese Taipei
7.Kazakhstan
8.Phillippines
9.Iran
10.Australia
11.Hong Kong
12.New Zealand
Individual Awards:
Most Valuable Player: Risa Shinnabe (JPN)
Best Setter: Nootsara Tomkom (THA)
Best Outside Spikers: Kim Yeon-koung (KOR), Chatchu-on Moksri (THA)
Best Middle Blocker: Hattaya Bamrungsuk (THA), Nana Iwasaka (JPN)
Best Opposite Spiker: Jin Ye (CHN)
Best Liberos: Mako Kobata (JPN), Dawn Nicole Macandili (PHL)
