Challenges from competitors
Prior to the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese men's national team competed in the Asian Men's Club Championship in Japan in May (eliminated in the group stage), the Asian Volleyball Championship - AVC Nations Cup in Bahrain in June (ranked 8th), and two SEA V.League legs in Thailand and the Philippines (winning a bronze medal in leg 1 and a silver medal in leg 2).
Competing in those tournaments provided the players with valuable experience and better preparation for the 33rd SEA Games. Most importantly, the team's roster (14 players) for the regional games remained almost unchanged compared to those tournaments.
This gives the coaching staff an advantage in maintaining stability for the core team and calculating the best peak performance timing for the players before competing at the SEA Games 33.
This year, the target set for the Vietnamese men's team was to compete for a medal (at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 in Cambodia, the team won a bronze medal; previously, at the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam, they won a silver medal).
However, after impressive achievements in recent times, especially the silver medal at the second leg of the SEA V.League 2025, fans hope the team can reach the final and even win the gold medal.
The solid foundation for that expectation is that the team has the best players, a core group that is at its peak and has been playing together for quite some time, such as Van Hiep, Ngoc Thuan, Van Duy, Duy Tuyen, Quoc Du, Quoc Duy, Trong Nghia…
However, the challenge for Coach Tran Dinh Tien and his team is immense because their opponents at the SEA Games 33 are very determined and not easy to play against. In Group A, the Vietnamese men's team will have a good chance of securing one of the two semi-final spots because, besides host Thailand, both Singapore and Laos are very weak.
But the real challenge will come in the semi-finals, where the opponents in Group B are very formidable. Indonesia are the defending champions and the number one team in the region, while Cambodia are the reigning runners-up, the Philippines have shown great progress recently, and Myanmar has historically been a difficult opponent for their rivals. Unless there are any surprises, Indonesia is highly likely to top Group B.
Therefore, to have a good chance of reaching the final, the Vietnamese team must finish first in Group A, which means they must beat Thailand in the group stage. The Vietnamese team has already beaten Thailand in both previous encounters in the SEA V.League 2025 (they also defeated Thailand 3-1 in the bronze medal match at the SEA Games 32), but this time, their opponent will be playing at home, making a victory more difficult. Even if the Vietnamese team finishes first in Group A, facing Cambodia or the Philippines will not be easy either.
Reduce stress
Ahead of the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's national team changed their target from gold to silver. This change was based on the current state of the team's strength, and most importantly, it aimed to reduce the pressure of achieving results for the players, allowing them to have a better mindset for competition.
In the last three SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's team reached the final but lost to Thailand each time. Most disappointingly, at the 2022 SEA Games (SEA Games 31), despite having home advantage, they were unable to change the color of their medal against Thailand.
At the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's team had to compete in Thailand, reducing the chances of surprising their opponents, so aiming for a silver medal was a reasonable goal.
At the second leg of the SEA V.League 2025, held in Hanoi in early August, the Vietnamese women's team defeated the Thai women's team for the first time in history in an official regional tournament. However, the team had opposite hitter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, who scored 45 points in the final, making a huge contribution to the team's historic victory. Bich Tuyen did not participate in the SEA Games 33.
This presents difficulties for the team. Bich Tuyen's absence not only affects scoring ability but also reduces the team's unpredictability and offensive power. This can be considered one of the important reasons why the Vietnamese women's national team had to adjust its targets.
However, with the current squad, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team are expected to have a memorable journey. At the 33rd SEA Games, the Vietnamese women's team is in Group B with Indonesia, Myanmar, and Malaysia; Group A includes Thailand (host and defending champion), the Philippines, and Singapore.
Unless something unexpected happens, Vietnam and Thailand will likely meet in the final. Even then, anything can happen. Once they enter the decisive match, the fighting spirit, perseverance, and determination of the Vietnamese women's team are expected to shine through at the right moment, allowing them to dream of a miracle. With a united, determined team and an unyielding spirit, the Vietnamese women's team is still expected to create a surprise at the SEA Games 33.
14 male players: Nguyen Ngoc Thuan, Quan Trong Nghia, Duong Van Tien, Tran Anh Tu (outside hitters); Pham Van Hiep, Nguyen Van Quoc Duy, Pham Quoc Du (opposite hitters); Tran Duy Tuyen, Truong The Khai, Nguyen Thanh Hai (middle blockers); Dinh Van Duy, Phan Cong Duc (setters); Trinh Duy Phuc, Cao Duc Hoang (liberos).
14 female players: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, Nguyen Thi Uyen, Bui Thi Anh Thao (outside hitters); Dang Thi Kim Thanh, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh (opposite hitters); Tran Thi Bich Thuy, Nguyen Thi Trinh, Le Thanh Thuy, Luu Thi Hue (middle blockers); Doan Thi Lam Oanh, Vo Thi Kim Thoa (setters); Nguyen Khanh Dang, Le Thi Yen (libero).
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/co-hoi-va-thu-thach-cho-bong-chuyen-186614.html
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