CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur — The moment the final point hit the floor, Kazakhstan’s players erupted in celebration—not just because they had won a volleyball match, but because they had finally broken through against a team that had haunted them in recent years.
Prior to their clash, Vietnam had been untouchable in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup, previously known as the Challenge Cup and Nations Cup.
Since joining the competition in 2023, the Vietnamese have captured three consecutive championships and strung together 23 straight victories without suffering a single defeat.
The team built an aura of dominance that remained unbroken — until Kazakhstan finally ended the streak, in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Friday morning at the Candon City Arena here.
Led by Kristina Belova and team captain Natalya Khazova, Kazakhstan rallied from a set down to defeat Vietnam, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 15-13, in a battle of unbeaten teams to claim the top seed in Pool A.
“We did a lot of work for these games. We worked hard for this win. We tried something new, and this is the result,” said Khazova after the victory.
For Kazakhstan, the win was more than just a breakthrough. It also felt like a long-awaited exhale after years of falling short against the same formidable opponent.
Kazakhstan had initially planned to participate in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup in 2023 but withdrew before the tournament began. When the team finally made its debut in 2024, it immediately announced its arrival by reaching the finals, only to suffer a lopsided loss to Vietnam.
The following year, Kazakhstan’s title hopes were once again dashed by the Vietnamese, who eliminated them in the semifinals and denied them a shot at the championship for the second straight year.
“In previous tournaments, we lost against Vietnam, and this win is really important for us. We really prepared for this game. Everyone did a great job,” said Belova, who delivered in the clutch during the deciding fifth set.
The 27-year-old outside hitter sparked the crucial 4-0 run in the fifth frame. She hammered home three points to turn a 7-9 deficit into an 11-9 advantage and shift the momentum firmly in Kazakhstan’s favor.
Belova also played a key role in a subsequent 3-0 rally that pushed Kazakhstan to match point, setting the stage for Tatyana Yatskiv to seal the emotional victory in the tournament co-presented by the FIVB, AVC, Volleyball World, and the City of Candon under the leadership of Mayor Eric Singson.
As the winning point landed, Kazakhstan’s bench immediately spilled onto the court in celebration.
“I didn’t do it on my own. It was the work of each player, and we worked together. We just wanted to win this game; that’s all,” said Belova, who was part of Kazakhstan’s squad in the 2018 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship.
Despite the breakthrough triumph, Kazakhstan remained fully aware that its work was far from over. The team must now quickly shift its focus toward the bigger goal of capturing its first-ever AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup title.
“We will try our best on the court, and from this moment, we’re gonna prepare to reach the final,” said Khazova.
