Entering the final match, U18 Vietnam and U18 Thailand created an exciting match that met the expectations of fans.
In the opening set, U18 Vietnam chased fiercely and repeatedly equalized the score before losing narrowly 23-25.
In set 2, the game became even more dramatic when the two teams continuously exchanged blows. Coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa's students at one point took the advantage and stood before the opportunity to bring the match back to balance, but could not take advantage of the decisive points, accepting a 27-29 defeat.
Being led by 2 sets, U18 Vietnam still did not give up. The young girls continued to play determinedly in set 3, maintaining the chasing posture against the opponent. However, at the crucial moment, the regrettable errors and bravery of U18 Thailand caused the Vietnamese representative to close the set with a score of 23-25, thereby suffering a final 0-3 defeat.
Although losing, this is not a one-sided match. All 3 sets took place with a very close gap, showing the fierce competition between the two strongest teams in the tournament.
Closing the tournament with the runner-up title, U18 Vietnam can be proud of their journey. The tournament brings many positive signals for Vietnamese youth volleyball when many faces show maturity in both expertise and competitive bravery.
Although there are still many things to improve, especially the ability to handle at decisive moments, the regional runner-up position is a remarkable achievement and an important stepping stone for the team to aim for the AFC U18 Championship in the near future.
