08:12, 20/12/2017

Sanest Khanh Hoa edges out The Cong in final of National Volleyball Championship 2017

The players of Sanset Khanh Hoa successfully changed the color of the medal from silver to gold as they edged out the 2016 champion The Cong in the final match of the National Volleyball Championship PV GAS D 2017 on December 17. 
 

The players of Sanset Khanh Hoa successfully changed the color of the medal from silver to gold as they edged out the 2016 champion The Cong in the final match of the National Volleyball Championship PV GAS D 2017 on December 17. 
 
The 2017 championship was a gift to the fans who always supported and waited for this win, especially after the team’s two consecutive failures in the final of 2015 and 2016 season. The coaching board and players of Sanest Khanh Hoa burst with joy as Van Tien scored an ace in the fifth set, helping the team of the beach city to win over The Cong 3-2.
 
This was the third consecutive time Sanest Khanh Hoa qualifying for the final match of the national volleyball championship. In the last two years, the players of Sanest Khanh Hoa could not overcome Maseco Ho Chi Minh City in the final of the 2015 championship and lost to The Cong in the 2016 final competition.

 

 
In a rematch with The Cong in the 2017 national championship, thanks to the good performances of Van Tien, Trien Chieu, Tu Thanh Thuan and, Van Phong, Sanest Khanh Hoa had a better begin with the first set win with 25-22 lead. However, they could not maintain their lead when the attacking and defending line of The Cong played excellently in the next two sets. The Cong took 2-1 lead after three sets, which seemed to close the door to the championship of Sanest Khanh Hoa. 
 
The two main reasons for the defeat of Sanest Khanh Hoa in the second and third set were the unsuccessful serves and the tactic which depended too much on outside hitter Tu Thanh Thuan. Near the end of the third set, Coach Trieu Tu Thien of Sanest Khanh Hoa made two substitutions: outside hitter Ngo Van Kieu and setter Quoc Thien came on for Van Phong and Xuan Tan. These changes proved crucial and made a huge impact to the play of Sanest Khanh Hoa, helping them to win the fourth set by a margin of 25-21 to force the fifth and decisive set.

 

 
Sanest Khanh Hoa and The Cong played an exciting and nail-biting fifth set. Tu Thanh Thuan played excellently, helping Sanest Khanh Hoa to come back many times. The scoring was back and forth until Van Tien dropped an important ace to claim a final 3-2 win for Sanest Khanh Hoa. 
 
Sanest Khanh Hoa gained the trophy at the national volleyball championship after nine years. Tu Thanh Thuan was honored as a versatile athlete. After lots of difficulties and challenges, this championship was a reward for the efforts of the whole team in many years.  
 
An Nhien
Translated by H.N