Zhetysu and Binh Dien to lock horns for continental gold

Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu Taldyqorgan and Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An will battle it out on Sunday for the inaugural AVC Women’s Champions League crown. The two teams swept their semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, the Philippines on Saturday and left Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima QminC and China’s Beijing Baic Motor to settle the bronze in the third-place game.

• Watch the AVC Women’s Champions League on VBTV.

Zhetysu Taldyqorgan were the first team to book a spot in the historic final. They mastered a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-21) shutout of Nakhon Ratchasima QminC. The Kazakhstani team’s better blocking made the big difference in the match, with 11 stuffs against the opponents’ four. Middle blocker Valeriya Yakutina personally authored seven of those to finish with a total of 12 points. Ukrainian outside hitter Yuliia Dymar also contributed 12 points, while her cross-court teammate and compatriot, captain Karyna Denysova, led the way with a match-high 14. American opposite Anyse Marlee Smith put away 13 points for the Thai team. Experienced outside and captain Onuma Sittirak finished with 11.

VTV Binh Dien Long An got back at Beijing Baic Motor for the five-set loss on Monday during the pool stage of the tournament with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-21) sweep of their semifinal on Saturday. The Vietnamese outscored their Chinese opponents in all point-bringing elements and especially in serving with 10 aces against two. With four aces to her name, opposite Vi Thi Nhu Quynh finished with a total of 14 points, while outside hitter and captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy delivered a match-high 17 points, including three kill blocks and an ace. Middle blocker Thi Phuong and Polish outside Natalia Lijewska also reached the double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively. 18-year-old Shan Lanfeng was Baic Motor’s most prolific scorer with 12 points.

Sunday’s final between Zhetysu and Binh Dien will serve off at 19:00 local time (11:00 UTC). Three hours earlier, Nakhon Ratchasima and Baic Motor will cross swords for the bronze.

AVC Women’s Champion League 2025 final:
Apr 27, 19:00 local (11:00 UTC): Zhetysu Taldyqorgan (KAZ) v VTV Bình Dien Long An (VIE)

AVC Women’s Champion League 2025 third-place match:
Apr 27, 16:00 local (08:00 UTC): Nakhon Ratchasima QminC (THA) v Beijing Baic Motor (CHN)

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