Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An outlasted a determined Kaohsiung Taipower side of Chinese Taipei, grinding out a four-set thriller, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 28-26, to advance to the semifinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Friday at the Philsports Arena.
The reigning Vietnam Volleyball League champions fought through a tense fourth set, staving off a resilient Taipower squad to set up a semifinal clash against the winner of the Beijing Baic Motor–Petro Gazz matchup in this tournament supported by federation partners Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport.
With the fourth frame tied at 24-all, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh launched a thunderous attack—but Kaohsiung’s Wan-Yun Hsu responded with a clutch kill to keep her team alive. A costly miscue by Taipower gave Vietnam match point, but Hsu again came through, tying the score at 26-all and extending the gripping set.
(C) PVL Images
Vi, however, stepped up when it mattered most. She hammered a decisive hit that broke through the Taiwanese defense, before a net touch by Taipower sealed the deal for the Vietnamese squad in a dramatic finish.
“Taipower played really well in the fourth set, they played well as a team and we struggled to really put together a good run against them. We got a few points, but they caught up. In the end, we’re fortunate to [win] the match,” said Binh Dien Long An team captain Thi Thanh Thuy Tran, who led by example with 14 points, 11 excellent digs, and 16 excellent receptions.
Lu Thi Phuong spearheaded Vietnam’s attack with 19 points off 17 attacks and two blocks, while Vi chipped in 18 points and seven excellent digs, helping their squad stay alive in this tournament also backed by local partners PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.
Nguyen Khanh Dang anchored the floor defense with 20 excellent digs and eight receptions for the second-seeded squad in Pool C.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Taipower, which topped Pool B with a 2-0 record, bowed out of the Sports Vision-organized tournament following the heartbreaker.
Hsu led Kaohsiung with a game-high 20 points, 13 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions. Yu-Chun Tsai also shone with a triple-double of 14 points, 10 digs, and 12 receptions.
Xiao-Pei Hu and Hsin-Yu Huang added 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Yu-Rou Peng and Ching Hsuan Huang chipped in eight apiece in the losing effort.
