VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam during the AVC Champions League semifinals match against Beijing Baic Motor. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam got its revenge at the perfect time, sweeping Beijing Baic Motor, 25-15, 25-19, 25-21, to book a finals berth in the AVC Women’s Champions League Saturday at Philsports Arena.
Learning from their group-stage collapse, where they blew a 2-0 lead to the Chinese, the Vietnamese this time struck early and adapted their attack and defense with speed and precision.
This time, there was no collapse. Binh Dien Long An seized control midway through the third set with a flurry of clean offense and steady sideouts, dousing every Baic Motor rally to complete the sweep.
The Vietnamese set up a gold medal showdown with Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC, which earlier swept Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21, in the other semifinal.
Game time for the title match is set for 7 p.m. Sunday. Baic Motor and Nakhon Ratchasima will battle for the bronze at 4 p.m.
This marks the second straight year Vietnam and Kazakhstan will meet for an AVC crown, following Vietnam’s sweep in the 2024 AVC Women’s Challenge Cup — although this time, the stakes are at the club level.
Beijing Baic Motor struggled to keep pace, visibly worn down after a grueling five-set quarterfinal against Petro Gazz the night before. In contrast, Binh Dien Long An entered fresh from a four-set semifinal win over Kaohsiung Taipower.
The win also secured Binh Dien Long An a spot in the 2025 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Club World Championship in Thailand this September.
Vietnam’s defense shut down Baic Motor’s main gunner, Jin Ye, who managed just six points after dropping 37 the previous night.
Thuy led Binh Dien Long An with a game-high 17 points on 13 attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while adding eight excellent digs. Quynh chipped in 14 points built on nine attacks, four aces, and a block, along with seven digs.
Shan Lanfeng led Baic Motor with 12 points.