The 2025 AVC Champions League has been a rollercoaster of emotions for VTV Bình ?i?n Long An, who have yet to secure a straight-set victory after three games. But with their performance in the knockout rounds, the Vietnamese squad, led by the formidable Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, is more determined than ever to push for a spot in the grand finale.
The team’s journey to the Final Four has been anything but smooth sailing. In Pool C during the elimination round, VTV Bình ?i?n Long An posted a 1-1 record. They began their campaign with a hard-fought five-set loss to Beijing Baic Motor but quickly bounced back, overcoming Saipa Tehran in four sets to secure their place in the knockout stage. Despite the ups and downs, the team’s resilience paid off, as they clinched the second seed in their pool.
In the quarterfinals, they were paired against the top-seeded team from Pool B—Taipower of Chinese Taipei. Despite the daunting challenge, the Vietnamese squad rose to the occasion, with Thuy, Lu Thi Puong, and Vi Thi Nhu Quynh leading the charge. VTV Bình ?i?n Long An secured a thrilling four-set victory over Taipower, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 28-26, to book their ticket to the semifinals on Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
For Thuy, however, the job is far from over. While the victory over Taipower was sweet, the Vietnamese team knows they must elevate their play even further to have a chance at reaching the final.
“It’s gonna be a good match. We’re gonna do our work to be able to have a good performance in the semifinals,” said Thuy, affectionately known as T4 in the volleyball world. “We’re focused on giving our best, because that’s what it will take to make it to the finals.”
As of the time of writing, VTV Bình ?i?n Long An awaits the outcome of the quarterfinal clash between Petro Gazz and Beijing Baic Motor, which will determine their semifinal opponent.
The road to the semifinals has been a test of character for VTV Bình ?i?n Long An, particularly when they faced Beijing Baic earlier in the competition. The Vietnamese squad cruised to a 2-0 set lead but faltered in the next three, ultimately falling in heartbreaking fashion, 25-22, 25-21, 19-25, 13-25, 10-15.
Despite the setback, VTV Bình ?i?n Long An’s belief remains strong. Their attack against Taipower was led by middle blocker Phuong, who tallied 19 points, while Quynh chipped in 18 of her own. Thuy added 14 points, including 11 spikes and three blocks, along with 11 excellent digs. The Vietnamese squad will rely on similar contributions in the semifinals as they aim for their first-ever appearance in the AVC Champions League final.
But as Thuy points out, the next challenge lies in maintaining momentum, particularly during critical moments. Despite their victory over Taipower, the team struggled to close out the match, as Taipower saved three match points before ultimately falling.
“Taipower played really well in the fourth set, they played well as a team and we struggled to really put together a good run against them. We got a few points, but they caught up. In the end, we’re fortunate to [win] the match,” Thuy shared.
