Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An bounced back from a slow start to defeat Iran’s Saipa Tehran, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-15, and secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League, Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Coming off a five-set loss to China’s Baic Motor Volleyball Club the day before, the Vietnamese club finished as the second seed in Pool C.
They now advance to face Pool B’s top seed, Kaohsiung Taipower, in the knockout round of the tournament supported by federation partners Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport.
“After the first set, I switched T4 to opposite and Quynh to outside hitter and also brought in Lu Thi Phuong, and that changed our fortunes during the game,” said Binh Dien Long An head coach Thai Quang Lai through a translator, detailing his key adjustments.
(C) PVL Images
Those changes proved pivotal. After dropping the first set, Binh Dien Long An found their rhythm and never looked back, dominating the next three frames.
The Vietnamese champions cruised through the second set, but had to dig deep in the third and fourth to fend off the determined Iranian squad. In the third frame, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy delivered three consecutive hits to break a 21-20 deadlock and bring her team to set point at 24-20.
An error by Soudabeh Bagherpour sealed the set in favor of Binh Dien Long An.
Saipa took a slim 12-11 lead early in the fourth, but the Vietnamese side — powered by Polish import Natalia Lijewska — responded with a blistering 9-0 run that turned the tide for good. From there, they cruised to a 20-12 lead and wrapped up their first win of the tournament in one hour and 50 minutes.
Vi Thi Nhu Quynh led all scorers with 21 points off 16 attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Lijewska added 15 points, while Thanh Thuy chipped in 14 markers on 12 attacks, a block, and an ace, along with 13 excellent digs.
Saipa Tehran, meanwhile, ended their campaign winless, following a straight-sets loss to Baic in their opening match last Sunday.
(C) PVL Images
Outside hitters Mahsa Saberi and Mahsa Kadkhoda paced the Iranian squad with 11 points apiece, with Saberi also notching 15 excellent digs in the losing effort.
The tournament is backed by local sponsors PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.
