Ha Nam, Vietnam, September 20, 2015 - Thailand’s Bangkok Glass underlined their supremacy over the 2015 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Ha Nam Gymnasium on Sunday after sealing an epic five-set 3-2 (25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-12) victory over title-holders Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs to win Asia’s lone ticket to next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.
Bangkok Glass, double champions of the Thailand League and Super League in Thailand, had already beaten DPR Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club and China League champions Zhejiang en route to their final showdown against the Japanese team, who participated in the World Club Championship in 2014 and 2015
Hisamitsu Springs were strong with the likes of powerful left-hander Miyu Nagaoka, Yuki Ishii and Risa Shinnabe all major forces in their victory against Taiwan Power in the semifinals on the previous day, while three of Thailand's national team players Wilavan Apinyapong, Pleumjit Thinkaow and Pornpun Guedpard strengthened Bangkok Glass.
Bangkok Glass took a hard-fought first set 25-22 before Hisamitsu Springs stormed back to win the second 25-20. The Japanese held a 2-1 advantage following their sensational 25-23 win in the hotly-contested third set, but the Thais adopted a never-say-die attitude, pouring everything into winning the fourth set 25-22.
The thrilling decider saw Bangkok Glass perform superbly to get off to a brilliant 11-3 lead. Spirited Hisamitsu regrouped to reduce the gap to 10-14. Hot on the Thai heels, the Japanese side won two crucial points to move a bit closer to Bangkok Glass at 12-14. However, Hisamitsu Springs’ title defence dreams were completely shattered when a thundering spike from Bangkok Glass went unanswered. The Thais won the deciding set 15-11, claiming the championship and a hotly-contested ticket to participate in next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship.
Pleumjit Thinkaow led Bangkok Glass with 18 points including 14 kills from 31 attempts, while Miyu Nagaoka scored a match-high 24 points for Hisamitsu Springs including 22 deadly attacks from 50 attempts.
Final results7th-8th playoff: Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam) b Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines) 3-1 (26-24 27-25 24-26 25-20)
5th-6th playoff: Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan) b 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea) 3-0 (25-18 25-19 25-22)
Third-place playoff: Zhejiang (China) b Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei) 3-0 (25-14 25-15 25-15)
Championship match: Bangkok Glass (Thailand) b Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan) 3-2 (25-22 20-25 23-25 25-22 15-12)
Team ranking1. Bangkok Glass (Thailand) …Qualified for the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship
2. Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs (Japan)
3. Zhejiang (China)
4. Taiwan Power (Chinese Taipei)
5. Zhetyssu (Kazakhstan)
6. 4.25 Sports Club (DPR Korea)
7. Thong Tin Lienvietpost Bank (Vietnam)
8. Petron Blaze Spikers (Philippines)
9. Islamic Azad University (Iran)
Individual awardsMost Valuable Player: Pleumjit Thinkaow (Bangkok Glass)
Best Setter: Pornpun Guedpard (Bangkok Glass)
Best Outside Spikers: Miyu Nagaoka (Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs) and Risa Shinnabe (Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs)
Best Middle Blockers: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa (Bangkok Glass) and Yang Zhou (Zhejiang)
Best Opposite Spiker: Chen Wan-Ting (Taiwan Power)
Best Libero: Tikamporn Changkeaw (Bangkok Glass)