By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Baic Motor Club of China survived VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-10, Monday to sweep Pool C in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Champions League at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Jin Ye scored 30 points on 24 attacks, four aces and two blocks, and made 10 excellent digs as the Chinese squad, which pulled off a 28-26, 25-22, 25-19 win over Saipa Tehran the day before, advanced to the quarterfinal round.
As the No. 1 seed in Pool C, Baic Motor will face the No. 2 seed in Pool B, which is composed of Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino champion Petro Gazz, Chinese Taipei’s Taipower, and Hong Kong’s Hip Hing.
“I am familiar with the local teams here. I have been here before. But we have a younger team this year and all we want to do is bring more experience back to China so that we don’t have any pressure on us,” Baic Motor coach Kuang Qi said through an interpreter.
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Vi Thi Nhu Quynh powered Vietnam in the first two sets but the Chinese spikers got their act together and successfully took the next two sets to force the decider.
Baic Motor relied on Lu Yufei, Shan Lanfeng, Shen Hongyi and Ye in the fifth set to seal the win.
“Ye is playing well. I’m happy not just with her performance today but also with the leadership she brings to the team. She’s one of our veterans and she did exactly what we needed from her,” Qi said.
Lanfeng contributed 20 points on 14 attacks, four blocks, and two aces, while Yufei had 14 points. Shen Hongyi and Tian Yue chipped in nine and seven points, respectively.
Quynh led Binh Dien Long An with 22 points on 20 attacks followed by Thuy with 20 points, including 18 attacks.
Russian import Lijewska Natalia scored 12 points and middle blocker Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa had seven points for Binh Dien Long An, which must prevail over Saipa Tehran on Tuesday to advance. (PNA)
