BGVC breeze past Sarmayeh to top Pool B

Bangkok Glass, which last year stunned Hisamitsu Springs from Japan in thrilling five sets in the showdown to emerge as the first Thailand’s volleyball club ever to capture the Asian crown, pulled off an impressive 3-1 win over North Korea’s 4.25 Sports Club in their opening match on Sunday.

With two straight wins, Bangkok Glass top Pool B to next contest Pool F in round of the last eight teams against Ba’Yi Shenzheng from China, Taiwan’s T.Grand and Sarmayeh Bank from Iran.

In a Monday’s clash against the Iranian side, superstar spiker and captain Pleumjit Thinkaow finished with 13 points for defending champions Bangkok Glass, which needed only one hour and 19 minutes to win the encounter.

Wilavan Apinyapong, who is joining Bangkok Glass on borrowed time, and Vietnamese import Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa added nine markers each for Thailand, which banked on their superb attacks 38-22.

Meanwhile, China’s Ba’yi Shenzheng outclassed Malaysia 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-18) on Monday to complete a clean sweep of Pool D. The powerhouse Chinese team gave their young star hitter a breather keeping Liu Yanhan on the bench in their one-hour, eight-minute demolition of the winless Malaysian side.

Wang Yun Lu led the way for China with 16 points anchored on 15 kills.

Japan’s NEC Red Rockets dominated the much taller Altay VC of Kazakhstan for a straight-set (25-16, 25-17, 25-19) victory to capture the top spot in Pool C, while Thongtin Lien Viet Post Bank of Vietnam top Pool A after they defeated Kwai Tsing of Hong Kong 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18).

In the 1st-8th playoffs on Tuesday, Bangkok Glass take on T. Grand of Taiwan and China’s Ba’Yi Shengzheng play Sarmayeh Bank of Iran in Pool F, while Lienviet Post Bank challenge Altay VC and NEC Red Rockets play Foton Pilipinas in Pool E.

Kwai Tsing from Hong Kong go up against Jakarta Elektrik of Indonesia in the 9th-12th playoff.