Vietnamese players easily controlled the match against Hong Kong at the Asian Women's Volleyball Tournament - AVC Cup 2026, on the morning of 7/6 in the Philippines. *Photo: AVC*

After an easy opening victory against Lebanon, head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet continued to test his lineup, featuring many reserve players. Facing weak resistance from Hong Kong, Vietnam effortlessly dominated the game, winning the first set 25-9.

In the subsequent two sets, Hong Kong gradually found their rhythm, making some counterattacks, but they posed no real challenge to the Vietnamese team. Recognizing the favorable position, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet brought in key player Tran Thi Thanh Thuy to "warm up." Vietnam then secured consecutive wins of 25-18 and 25-11, concluding the match in 59 minutes.

This second consecutive victory secured Vietnam's top position in group B, while also preserving the excellent physical condition of the core players ahead of their next match against strong opponent Indonesia on 8/6.

The AVC Nations Cup, organized by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), serves as a tier-two competition for mid-ranked national teams. Stronger nations such as China, Japan, and Thailand are currently competing in the Nations League, which features top global teams. Vietnam has won the AVC Cup three consecutive times in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

This year, the tournament is taking place in Ilocos Sur province, Philippines, from 6-14/6, featuring 12 teams. Group A includes: hosts Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Australia. Group B comprises: Vietnam, Iran, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Lebanon. Teams will play a single round-robin, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals to contend for the championship. The remaining teams will compete for lower rankings.

Duc Dong