BINAN — NEC Red Rockets of Japan completed an unbeaten run to the AVC Asian Women's Club Championship crown, clobbering Ba'yi Shenzheng, 25-23, 25-19,25-21, on Sunday at Alonte Sports Arena.
The Japanese squad, which dethroned defending champion Bangkok Glass of Thailand to book a seat in the title match, made short work of the Chinese team, which defeated Altay VC of Kazakhstan in the round of four.
Sarina Koga scored 16 points for the Red Rockets and was later named Most Valuable Player.
Mizuki Yanagita added 15 points, while skipper Akari Oumi chipped in 14.
Down, 4-11, in the third set, NEC Red Rockets answered with a 10-3 run to level it at 14 and went on to seal the straight-sets win.
Japan defeated Jakarta Electrik of Indonesia and Altay VC in the pool play, downed Foton Pilipinas and Thongtin Lien Viet Post Bank of Vietnam in the second phase before beating T. Grand of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals.
Yang Jun Jing scored 15 points, while Liu Yan Han added 14 for the Chinese squad.
Ba'yi Shenzheng also swept its earlier matches, including a rout of Foton Pilipinas in the knockout quarterfinals.
Yanagita was named best opposite spiker and teammate Kana Ono was awarded the first best middle blocker award.
Liu Yan Han of Ba'yi Shenzheng was named second best outside spiker.
Although Bangkok Glass of Thailand settled for the third spot, four of its players bagged individual awards. Team captain Pleumjit Thinkaow was named second best middle blocker, Wilavan Apinyapong won the first best outside spiker award, Pornpun Geudpard was given the best setter title and Tikaporn Changkeaw was named best libero.
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