Chinese Taipei took down Iran in three sets, 25-23, 25-19, 25-17, to move into the fifth-place playoff of the 2022 PNVF AVC Cup for Women, Sunday morning at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The gamble of going head-to-head against Iran in terms of height worked for the East Asians. Hsuang Ching-Hsuan, listed as a middle blocker, played from the wings for this game.
Hsuang ultimately paced her side with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace.
The two teams fought toe-to-toe in most of the two sets, where Chinese Taipei took most of its points in transition. Iran, though, kept it close with good service stints from wing spikers Aytak Salamatgharamaleki and Maedeh Borhani Esfahani. That negated these counters from opponents.
The East Asians eventually found a way to close out the sets for the 2-0 advantage.
“We tried to serve well so that they will have a hard time to go for their middles. And they will go for high balls to their open and opposite spikers,” captain Chang Li-Wen said about how well they did their objectives well.
Chinese Taipei then used this momentum to mount a huge lead that they never relinquished. It ultimately stopped Iran in just three sets in just almost an hour and a half of action.
Kan Ko-Hui was as usual a solid force in the middle with seven spikes to go along with three service aces. Chen Tzu-Ya added 10 markers, all coming from attacks.
Borhani ended with 10 points on eight attacks, one block, and one service ace. Pouran Zare also got it going from the middle with six attacks and one block for a total of seven.
Chinese Taipei will take on the winner of the later match between the host Philippines and Australia on Monday at 1:00 PM. Meanwhile, Iran will take on the losing side of the said match for the seventh-eighth place battle earlier at 10:00 AM.
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