HÀ NỘI — The Sanest Khánh Hòa men’s team were crowned champions at the national PV – Cà Mau Protein Volleyball Cup 2018, which concluded on Sunday in the central highland’s province of Đắk Nông.

The team beat defending champions Tràng An Ninh Bình 3-2 in the final round.

In the first set, the Khánh Hòa team with many young players led first at 21/17, then 25/23.

However, captain Giang Văn Đức of Ninh Bình, also the No 1 setter of the national team, managed to even the score.

Later, as Khánh Hòa’s top player Từ Thanh Thuận sustained a minor injury, libero Nguyễn Thanh Tùng and hitter Nguyễn Hoàng Thương evened the score 1-1 to Ninh Bình after winning 25/20.

As the third set started, Ninh Bình continued to pressure Khánh Hòa though they have the best hitter of the Asian Volleyball Club 2018 Nguyễn Đình Nhu, and pushed on to 2-1.

Young talents of Khánh Hòa were added in the fourth set, as Quang Đoàn helped the team shorten the gap at 25/22, and Văn Tiên, Triển Chiêu, Thanh Phương, Nhu and Thuận finally raised the score to 3-2 (15/10).

They were awarded $4,266 for winning the gold medal. 

Previously, Vietinbank defeated Mikado Thái Bình 3-0 to win bronze in the female group.

The best player award of the tournament went to Thuận from Khánh Hòa and Trần Thị Thanh Thúy from Bình Điền Long An. Meanwhile, best setters went to Đức from Ninh Bình and Nguyễn Linh Chi from Liên Việt Information Postbank. — VNS