The value is not just in the cup
The Vietnamese men's volleyball team closed SEA V.Cup 2026 with two opposite states. In stage 1 in the Philippines, coach Federico Rampazzo's team only ranked fourth after 1 win and 3 defeats. The team won against Myanmar 3-0 but lost to Thailand, Indonesia, and then continued to lose to Thailand in the third-place match.
In stage 2 in Indonesia, Vietnam still started with a 2-3 defeat to Thailand despite leading in the first 2 sets. After that, the team defeated Myanmar 3-0, Indonesia 3-1 in the semi-finals and defeated Thailand 3-2 in the final to win a SEA V.Cup stage for the first time.
Counting both legs, Vietnam has 4 wins and 4 losses. What is worth noting is the adjustment speed of the team.
After a lackluster first leg, the Vietnamese team returned strongly in decisive matches. The team ended 11 years without winning against Indonesia, then defeated Thailand in the final despite losing to the opponent in the previous two encounters.
The greatest value is therefore not only the cup, but also the belief that Vietnam can compete fairly with the leading group in Southeast Asia. In stage 2, the team knew how to turn moments of excitement into specific results. The championship also brought a ticket to the AVC Cup 2027, where the Vietnamese team can test the gap with the continental arena.
The initial mark of coach Federico Rampazzo
SEA V.Cup 2026 is the first official tournament of coach Federico Rampazzo and the Vietnamese men's volleyball team. Stage 1 has not met expectations, but the changes in stage 2 partly show the adjustment ability of the Italian coach.
After the match in the Philippines, the coaching staff included setter Tran Hoai Phuong, opposite hitter Dinh Van Phuong and middle blocker Bui Xuan Tien in the competition list. In which, Van Phuong helped the team have more scoring options in the opposite hitter position, reducing pressure on Nguyen Ngoc Thuan. In addition, Mr. Rampazzo also gradually identified a stable framework. The players playing their forte helps the playing style to be more balanced.
In the final match, Ngoc Thuan scored 31 points, Van Phuong added weight on the opposite wing, while Tran Duy Tuyen and Truong The Khai promoted efficiency in quick attacks and blocking situations. In set 4, when Thailand created a large gap, coach Rampazzo proactively withdrew some key players to save energy for the decisive set. Vietnam accepted a deep defeat but returned strongly to win 15-10 in set 5.
However, a championship is not enough to confirm that the change process has been completed. Mr. Rampazzo's work needs to be assessed through his ability to build a stable system, develop more personnel and reduce dependence on key players.
Stability is still the biggest problem
The clearest limitation of the Vietnamese team through the two stages is the ability to maintain the quality of play. The team can play evenly, even take the lead against Thailand, but it is also easy to lose the game due to continuous losses of points.
The defeat after leading Thailand 2-0 in the group stage of stage 2 is a typical example. The team has enough ability to create an advantage but does not know how to finish the match. When step one is broken or the attack is read, the ability to switch plans is still slow. Step one is therefore still the stage that needs to be prioritized.
When taking a good first pass, Dinh Van Duy can distribute the ball to many positions and use quick attacks. Conversely, when the first pass leaves the net, the playing style easily becomes monotonous, and the responsibility for scoring points is placed on Ngoc Thuan or Van Phuong.
Ngoc Thuan scoring 31 points in the final also shows that the amount of attack placed on his shoulders is very large. When stepping into the Asian arena, this dependence can become a weakness. Players like Tang Ngoc Hieu, Tran Minh Duc, Bui Xuan Tien or Tran Hoai Phuong need to be given more opportunities. The gap between the starting and reserve groups is still quite clear, while the quality of the reserve group determines the ability to rotate, maintain fitness and change the game.
SEA V.Cup 2026 brings a historic title, a ticket to the Asian tournament - AVC Cup 2027 and most importantly confidence. But the second leg championship should be seen as the starting point for a new cycle, not an affirmation that everything has been resolved.
The next task of the Vietnamese team is to improve step one, defense, squad depth and stability, so that the moment of sublimation in Indonesia becomes a skill that can be repeated regularly.
