After winning three consecutive championships, Vietnam became former champions following a 0-3 semi-final loss to South Korea yesterday. Determined to avoid leaving the tournament empty-handed, the Vietnamese women rallied, delivering their best performance of the competition to defeat Kazakhstan in 65 minutes.

Vietnamese players celebrate their 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan in the third-place match of the Asian women's volleyball championship - AVC Nations Cup 2026 on the afternoon of 14/6 in Philippines. Photo: AVC

Kazakhstan had previously defeated Vietnam 3-2 in the group stage, a result that positioned coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team against South Korea in the semi-finals. Kazakhstan then faced Taiwan, also losing 0-3. In this bronze medal rematch, the Central Asian team's performance lacked cohesion; their serves were less impactful, and their blocking capabilities were noticeably limited.

Despite some initial reception errors, Vietnam maintained an advantage through their effective fast attack strategies. Kim Thoa's diverse setting allowed hitters such as Thanh Thuy, Bich Thuy, Vi Quynh, and Nguyen Uyen to consistently score points and establish a lead. Consequently, Vietnam secured a swift three-set victory with scores of 25-17, 25-12, and 29-19.

Following the tournament, the team will return home to prepare for the Southeast Asian women's volleyball - SEA V-League and the VTV Cup international women's volleyball tournament. Later this year, coach Tuan Kiet's squad will also participate in the ASIAD and the Asian Championship.

Vietnamese players block a Kazakhstan hitter during their 3-0 victory in the third-place match of the Asian women's volleyball championship - AVC Nations Cup 2026 on the afternoon of 14/6 in Philippines. Photo: AVC

The AVC Nations Cup, organized by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), serves as a tier-two competition for mid-ranked national teams. Elite teams from countries such as China, Japan, and Thailand typically compete in the Nations League, which features top-ranked teams globally. Vietnam had previously secured the AVC Cup title three consecutive times in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

This year, the tournament was held in Ilocos Sur province, Philippines, from 6/6 to 14/6, featuring 12 national teams. Group A included host Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Australia. Group B comprised Vietnam, Iran, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Lebanon. Teams competed in a single round-robin format, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals to contend for the championship. The remaining teams competed for lower rankings.

The championship match between South Korea and Taiwan was scheduled for 18h.

Duc Dong