BY ABBY TORALBA
VIETNAM overpowered Iran 25-17, 25-14, 25-11 yesterday for its second victory in the AVC Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Team captain Thi Thanh Thuy Tran showed the way for Vietnam with 21 points, while Thi Trinh Nguyen added nine markers.
The Vietnamese squad rose to 2-1 while Iran slid to 1-1 in Pool A.
Skipper Mahsa Kadkhoda was the lone bright spot for the Iranians with 10 points.
In the first match, Chinese Taipei thumped Australia 23-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 15-6 to crash the winner’s circle of the continental tilt.
Kan Ko-Hui pumped in 18 points for Chinese Taipei, while skipper Chang Li-Wen and Chen Tzu-Ya added 15 and 12 markers, respectively.
“I think in the first set our service was not very strong, they had good reception,” Chang said after the two-hour, 47-minute duel.
“After we reach our target, our service is stronger. Maybe, in the fourth set and in the fifth set, it is better,” she added through an interpreter.
After falling short in the opening set, the Taiwanese crawled their way back in the second frame and took a two-point lead 10-8 after a quick shot from Wu Fang-Yu. Despite Australia equalizing at 21-all, Chinese Taipei kept its composure and got the set after back-to-back points from Chen 25-22.
In the fourth set, both teams refused to wilt but Chinese Taipei started to pull away in the latter part after two consecutive errors from the Aussies 23-21. A back line attack from Liu Shuang-Ling ended the set.
Aussie open hitter Caitlin Tipping scored 28 points for the Volleyroos while Rebecca Redgen scored 11 markers.
With the win, Chinese Taipei improved to 1-1, while Australia fell to 0-2 in Pool B.