AVC Men’s U23 Championship/ Japan Advanced to the Quarterfinal with win over Thailand

Ardabil, Iran, May 2, 2017 – Japan advanced to the quarterfinal as the top team of pool D with their 3-1 (30-28, 20-25, 25-19, 25- ) win over Thailand at the SMM Asian 2^nd Men’s U23 Volleyball Championship at Rezazadeh 6000-seat Indoor Stadium.

Thai U23 Men who rested on the opening day played their first match on the second day of tournament against Japan who had previously beat Sri Lanka in straight yesterday.

World No-25 Japan had a hard-fought match against the Thai who take the lead in the opening set up to 20-18 though accepting a tie once in 10-10. In the final moments of set one, Thailand trails 20-22 and Spiker Otake of Japan acted effectively to make it tie 28-28 and finally Japan closed the first set 30-28.

Coach Tokunaga of Japan used all his three tall players of over 2 m height of whom Otake had the major role in counter-attacks. Thailand disappointed from losing the first set enter the court with better tactics and stopped Japan 25-20. The sturdy challenge of two teams have brought five substitutions and three time-out calls overall from which Japan take the most advantage to win the set 25-19. Thailand did not stop surrendering and troubled the Japanese in the final minutes of fourth set and made it 2-2 by winning the set 25-22. Thailand tried to win the set with overall five substitutions using strong Suksala to annul the plans of Japan who had four substitutions on the opposite side. Thai players caught the praise of Iranian fans as they severally raised to clap them watching their dives and digs. Japan overwhelmed Thailand 15-8 and advanced to the quarterfinal. Thailand is to face Sri Lanka tomorrow in the next match.

Thailand coach, Monchai plans to have his players rest today and with more analysis can work on their first balls and receptions and added: “TVA is planning to find tall and strong players to make it possible to see this age group in world tournaments”.

Coach Tokunaga on the other side found the Thai players very strong as “they troubled our defence with their attacks”.