MANILA — Korea emerged as the new Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Cup champion after overpowering Chinese Taipei in straight sets, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22, in the championship match Sunday night at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Powered by a balanced offensive attack and a determined defensive effort, the Koreans completed a dominant tournament run highlighted by the stellar play of Most Valuable Player Kang Sohwi.
Kang delivered 14 points in the finals, while Hyunsoo Na and Yunju Jeong contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as world No. 31 Korea captured the coveted regional title.
The victory served as a fitting conclusion to Korea’s impressive campaign, having also defeated Chinese Taipei earlier in the preliminary round in a thrilling five-set encounter.
For Kang, the championship carried added significance as it helped restore the team’s confidence following a difficult stint in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), where Korea struggled against the world’s elite teams.
“We’re very happy with this result because it means so much to us,” Kang said after the match. “We went through a tough period in the VNL, and every win in this tournament reminded us of the value of victory and hard work.”
Kang’s consistent performance throughout the competition earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award after averaging 14 points per game.
Vietnam, meanwhile, salvaged a podium finish by defeating Kazakhstan, 25-17, 25-12, 25-19, to secure the bronze medal.
Thi Thanh Thuy Tran spearheaded Vietnam’s attack with 16 points, while Thi Bich Thuy Tran and Thi Nhu Quynh Vi added 15 and 13 points, respectively. The win enabled Vietnam to avenge its earlier five-set loss to Kazakhstan during the group stage.
Kazakhstan settled for fourth place despite a 10-point effort from Kristina Belova. Zhanna Syroyeshkina and Tatyana Yatskiv chipped in eight points apiece.
In other placement matches, Indonesia outclassed Australia, 25-13, 25-19, 26-24, to finish fifth overall, while Iran swept host Philippines, 25-21, 25-12, 25-21, to claim seventh place.
The tournament showcased some of Asia’s rising volleyball powers, with Korea ultimately proving its class and resilience en route to a morale-boosting championship that could serve as a springboard for future international competitions.
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