Following the dramatic match on the evening of 15/12, coach Kiattipong praised his players and acknowledged the clear progress of the Vietnam national team. He admitted that Thailand had to play at 100% capacity to overcome Vietnam. "This was a highly challenging match," he stated. "Everything we achieved came from our training process, the efforts, and the dedication of both the players and the coaching staff. This match holds significant value and meaning for us."

Coach Kiattipong (left) and the players display their gold medals after the SEA Games 33 women's volleyball final at Huamark Arena, Bangkok, Thailand on the evening of 15/12. Photo: DailyNews

The match was the first in women's volleyball final history to be decided in a fifth set, where both teams battled for every point and squandered multiple match points before Thailand secured the 25-23 victory.

The Thai coach identified four factors that determined the host's victory: physical condition, mental fortitude, technique, and tactics. He emphasized mental strength as the host team's superior aspect. "The match was physically demanding, requiring athletes to have a strong physical foundation. However, mental fortitude was more crucial. Maintaining mental stability when trailing is not easy. If players become overly excited or too stressed, they cannot perform to their full potential," Kiattipong added.

The 59-year-old coach believed that in terms of technique and tactics, the two teams were almost equal in the deciding set. Therefore, Thailand's victory stemmed from "superior mental fortitude and the ability to remain steadfast when the match was pushed to its absolute limit."

The host coach also noted that women's volleyball in the region is rapidly evolving, with three to four teams showing significant improvement in the last two to three years; Vietnam is a prime example. This progress provides additional motivation for Thailand to continue developing.

"This final serves as an important lesson. We will not stop here," he said. "The team needs to continue its development, as next year's schedule is packed with three major tournaments: the Nations League, the Asian Championship, and the Asiad."

A spike by Kieu Trinh during the final against Thailand. Photo: Duc Dong

From a player's perspective, captain Chatchu-on Moksri admitted the final left fans "on the edge of their seats." She noted that Vietnam had thoroughly studied Thailand's playing style, creating numerous challenges throughout the match.

"We trained well, but still made mistakes during the match. The entire team was not completely satisfied with today's performance, but the important thing is that no one gave up," Chatchu-on stated.

Specifically regarding the fifth set, the Thai captain revealed that belief was a pivotal factor. "Throughout the fifth set, we consistently believed we could not lose. And everyone saw the outcome," she emphasized.

Thailand has won the SEA Games women's volleyball gold medal for 15 consecutive tournaments, including 12 victories against Vietnam in the final. In the match on the evening of 15/12, Vietnam narrowly lost 25-19, 13-25, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25, securing the silver medal.

Hoang An