Men's volleyball has a lot of work to do

Men's volleyball still has a lot of work to do - photo 1 — Despite progress in both performance and playing style, the Vietnamese team will still have to make more efforts for SEA Games 33. Photo: SEA V.LEAGUE

This is really necessary for Coach Tran Dinh Tien's students in their preparation for the 33rd SEA Games at the end of the year.

Stability from the frame

SEA V.League 2025 is an important "rehearsal" for coach Tran Dinh Tien and his team as well as football teams in Southeast Asia to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games. Therefore, all teams send almost the strongest force to hone their skills, review their forces, and understand more about the playing style and preparation of their opponents.

At the tournament, the Vietnamese boys won 2 matches (against Cambodia and Thailand) and lost 2 matches (against the Philippines and Indonesia), ranking third in stage 1. Then, the team won 3 matches (against Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines) and lost 1 match (against Indonesia), ranking second in stage 2.

This achievement marks a huge improvement for the Vietnamese team when in SEA V.League 2024, the team lost all 6 matches and ranked bottom of the table in both stages.

To achieve this achievement, we must first mention the stability in the framework and playing positions. In both stages, the Vietnamese team kept the same lineup with 14 players, including: Dinh Van Duy, Phan Cong Duc (setter), Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Quan Trong Nghia, Hoang Xuan Truong (attacker); Tran Duy Tuyen, Truong The Khai, Che Quoc Lo Vit, Nguyen Thanh Hai (middle attacker); Pham Van Hiep, Nguyen Van Quoc Duy, Pham Quoc Du (opposite setter); Cao Duc Hoang, Trinh Duy Phuc (libero).

Coach Tran Dinh Tien wants the positions to play regularly and be connected to each other. If nothing changes, this will be the framework of the Vietnamese team at the 33rd SEA Games.

Van Duy has shown that he is the number one setter of Vietnamese men's volleyball at present with his intelligent playing style, along with his ability to block and support defense well. Van Duy's return to SEA V.League 2025 contributes significantly to the team's overall performance (last year this setter was absent due to injury).

In the opposite position, Quoc Du and Van Hiep played more than Quoc Duy, in which Quoc Du showed more stability and efficiency in both legs. Van Hiep just returned from injury, although he was not in the best form, he still had some good matches, especially the confrontation with Indonesia in leg 2.

As for Quoc Duy, although he played very well and scored the most points on the team at the AVC Challenge Cup in June, he has not shown much in the SEA V.League 2025. Surely Quoc Duy will have to try harder in the coming time to be able to compete with his teammates.

In the main attacking positions, Ngoc Thuan and Trong Nghia showed their importance when they almost "plowed" throughout the two stages. While Trong Nghia quietly stayed behind with his ability to catch the first step and defend well, Ngoc Thuan stood out with his consistent scoring efficiency.

In both stages, the Border Guard player was honored as “Best Striker”, in which in the second stage, he scored 69 points, the most on the team. Not inferior to his teammates, Duy Tien also showed his daily improvement from serving, blocking and attacking.

The title of “Best Middle Blocker” in the second leg showed the great progress of the player born in 2001. In the libero position, Duc Hoang performed quite well in the first leg but was unexpectedly injured in the first match of the second leg against Cambodia. However, Duy Phuc, who replaced him, also completed his task.

Affirming progress

The stability and good performance of the positions have helped the Vietnamese team's playing style become more cohesive and effective. Equally important is that the players always know how to stand up after defeat, know how to recognize shortcomings and mistakes, and improve. The 0-3 defeat to the Philippines on the opening day of the first leg was the team's most confusing defeat.

In this match, the players played without cohesion, making many defensive and first-step errors. But in the rematch in the second leg, the Vietnamese team completely “transformed” with a comprehensive attack and defense to successfully “revenge the debt” (winning 3-1, in which the last 2 sets were won by 25-17 and 25-16).

Against an improving Cambodia, the Vietnamese team, despite some difficulties, still won 3-0. Against Indonesia, the number one volleyball team in the region, the Vietnamese boys played hard, creating many difficulties, especially the 2-3 loss in the first leg.

But the most impressive were the two wins against defending champion Thailand, who were also the first-leg champions. Not only did the players demonstrate good technical skills, they also showed mental strength.

If in the first leg, the team came back 3-1, then in the second leg, the bravery and ability to take advantage of good opportunities in the deciding set helped Ngoc Thuan and his teammates win a thrilling 3-2 victory.

After SEA V.League 2025, it can be affirmed that the strength of the Vietnamese team is in the top 3 of Southeast Asia along with Indonesia and Thailand (on the world rankings, Vietnam is also ranked 3rd in the region) and can completely be in the top teams receiving medals at SEA Games 33 if they compete at their best.

However, to complete the target of reaching the final match at the congress at the end of the year, more effort is needed from coach Tran Dinh Tien's students.

The Vietnamese team has made significant improvements after SEA V.League 2025 but still has weaknesses in defense and catching up. Hopefully, from now until SEA Games 33, the team will be better prepared, the players must try to improve and perfect their positions.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/bong-chuyen-nam-con-nhieu-viec-phai-lam-155212.html