IT wasn’t only Gilas Pilipinas that halted a long dry spell against European opposition.
Vietnam pulled the rug from under world No. 13 Belgium, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, to salvage the bronze medal in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The hot hands of star spiker Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen were on full display once more with the Challenger Cup’s first 30-piece in which she fired 35 points on 34 attacks and one block in just four sets.
READ Meet the Vietnamese hard-hitter who ousted Alas Pilipinas
Southeast Asia’s second-ranked team picked up its first-ever win over a European side in 33 years since joining the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) - and in 63 years since their national federation’s inception.
The cherry on top for the world No. 34 and Asia’s fifth-ranked side?
Completing their redemption run from finishing dead-last in the 2023 Challenger Cup to becoming the first Asian team to ever land on the tournament’s podium.
Multi-awarded skipper Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who added seven markers in the podium-clincher and accommodated Filipino fans’ photo and autograph requests after the game, credited Vietnam’s historic win to their sharp on-court connection despite having just limited time to prepare.
“We didn’t have a long time preparing together, practicing together. But I’m very proud of them because they share information with each other. I think that is the important thing for my team,” said T4.
“I’m very happy for this win and I’m very proud of my teammates. We had a good connection and we did well today.”
Next up is SEA V.League
Next up for the Vietnamese side will be its first hosting of the Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League, where it finished second in each of the four-team conclave’s last three editions behind five-time champion Thailand.
They’ll be joined by Indonesia and an Alas Pilipinas team eyeing its first medal finish in four years.
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