Japan’s Hisamitsu Springs finally wins at Club Worlds, routs Bangkok Glass
AFTER back-to-back losses to start its 2016 FIVB Club World Championship campaign, Hisamitsu Springs Kobe of Japan finally barged into the win column, beating Thailand’s Bangkok Glass in straight sets, 25-14, 25-18 and 2520, in opening action yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Captain Miya Nagaoka paced the Japan club with 20 points, 18 off kills, in their clinical defeat of Bangkok Glass, getting support from Yushi Ishii, who had 13 points, and Nana Iwasaka and Maja Tokarska, who had 10 points apiece.
Hisamitsu Springs ruled from start to finish and was hardly tested by Pool B mate Bangkok Glass, lording it over in the team stats, including a 19-point spread, 47-28, in points off spikes.
The win was the first for Hisamitsu Springs after losing in the first two days of the international volleyball event being hosted by the Philippines for the first time.
It first bowed to VakifBank Istanbul, 3-1, on opening day on Tuesday before being swept by Volero Zurich, 3-0, on Wednesday.
Hisamitsu Springs now sits at the third spot with a 1-2 record and three points.
Bangkok Glass, which was led by Thi Ngoc Hoa Nguyen with 11 points yesterday, is still winless in two matches so far.
Games today will see VakifBank face off with Bangkok Glass at 4 p.m. while host team PSL-F2 Logistics Manila takes on Eczacibasi Vitra Istanbul at 7 p.m.
The PSL team, composed of local players seeing action at the Philippine Super Liga and foreign players, was to meet Pomi Casalmaggiore last night.
The 2016 FIVB Club World Championship is the 10th edition of the tournament that features eight clubs from different parts of the world and happens until Oct. 23.
Format of the tournament calls for the eight teams to be split into two pools of four with teams playing each other in a round-robin system to determine the overall ranking and classification.
The team ranked first in Pool A after the preliminary round will play against the team ranked second in Pool B. The team ranked first in Pool B after the preliminary round will play against the team ranked second in Pool A.
The losers of the semifinal matches will playoff for the bronze medal. The winners of the semifinal matches will contest the final. —