TAIWANESE THREAT: Kaohsiung Taipower pulls plug

TAIWANESE THREAT: Kaohsiung Taipower pulls plug | Daily Tribune

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

10 a.m. — Saipa Tehran vs VTV Binh Dien Long An

1 p.m. — Al Naser vs Zhetysu

4 p.m. — PLDT vs Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C

7 p.m. — Hip Hing vs Petro Gazz

Taiwan powerhouse Kaohsiung Taipower overpowered Petro Gazz, 25-15, 25-16, 19-25, 25-20, and punched a ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League on Monday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Taipower remained undefeated in Pool B with a 2-0 record after sweeping Hong Kong’s Hip Hing in its debut.

The victory also marked a bittersweet moment for Petro Gazz head coach Koji Tsuzurabara, who faced his former player — now Taipower mentor — Chang Li-Yun, on the sidelines.

“She was just a high school student when I was coaching the national team. We trained every day,” Tsuzurabara said.

“I was really looking forward to this match to see how Taipower is playing now.”

Petro Gazz dropped to 0-1 in the group and will need a crucial win over Hip Hing on Tuesday night to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive.

Despite the loss, the Angels showed flashes of brilliance, especially in the third set when they mounted a strong comeback to extend the match.

Down 9-12 in Set 3, the Angels strung together a 3-0 run to tie the score at 12-all, before Gia Day’s consecutive kills gave them a 16-14 edge.

Supported by Brooke Van Sickle and veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Petro Gazz surged ahead, 23-18. A quick hit from Joy Dacoron brought them to set point, and Van Sickle’s service ace closed out the frame.

But the momentum didn’t carry over into the fourth set. Taipower quickly raced to an eight-point lead, and although Petro Gazz managed to trim it down to five, the Taiwanese club’s composure and firepower proved too much for the local entry.

A service ace by Peng Yu-Rou pushed Taipower to match point, and a costly service error by Remy Palma sealed the Angels’ fate.

Hsu Wan-Yun led Taipower’s balanced attack with 18 points off 16 attacks and two aces, while Peng chipped in 11 points. Tsai Yu-Chun added 10.

For the Angels, Day finished with 18 points built on 16 attacks, a block, and a service ace. Van Sickle contributed 13 points, including two aces.

Earlier, Beijing Baic Motor delivered a championship-worthy performance, clawing back from a two-set deficit to shock Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An in a gripping five-set thriller, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-10, in Pool C action.

The Chinese squad not only spoiled the much-anticipated debut of the Vietnamese powerhouse but also became the first team to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, sweeping Pool C following an earlier straight-sets victory over Iran’s Saipa Tehran on opening day.

Despite missing two key players who are currently on national team duty and rotating just 10 players, Baic Motor displayed nerves of steel and remarkable resilience.

After narrowly dropping the first two sets, the Chinese side regrouped and stormed back behind a dominant net defense and a monster 30-point explosion from Jin Ye.