THREE of the best spikers of the 2016 Rio Olympics joined hands to lead Vakifbank Istanbul to a bronze-medal finish Sunday the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.
First, they got past the defensive plays of Brazilian commercial model-spiker Mariana Costa, Natalya Mammadova and Irina Malkova in the second set, before Vakifbank’s own floor defense carried them to a 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11 smashing of Volero Zurich.
The win sent Vakifbank to their best finish in three years after winning the crown in 2013.
Rio Games’ best opposite hitter Lonneke Sloetjes struck with 16 points, including a spike off Costa’s block that sent Vakifbank close to match points in the third set, 24-22.
Akman Kubra then gave the matchpoint to Vakifbank with her block of Costa.
Rasic Milena, the best middle block of the 2016 Olympics, had 15 points. Her shining moment came in the fourth set as she and Sloetjes came up with blocks that put Vakifbank in front, 11-4.
Chinese spiker Zhu Ting, the MVP of the Rio Games, tallied 13 points, including a kill in the third set that gave Vakifbank a 22-19 lead.
“I’m proud of my players. They wanted to proceed with the win. They put up quite a good performance,” said Vakifbank coach Giovani Guidetti, who coached The Netherlands to fourth place in the Rio Games.
Meanwhile, Australian spiker Ashley Frazier tallied 12 points for Bangkok Glass, which settled for seventh spot in their consolation match with Manila PSL-F2 Logistics, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20.
Frazier scored three crucial points during a crucial part of the third set, including an ace which handed the Thai spikers a decisive 10-7 lead.
Teammates Thidarat Phengvechai and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa added 11 points each for the Thais, with Thidarat hitting a spike and coming off with a block in the second set to help shatter a 23-all tie.
“We are very happy with our game on the last day. The players played good,” said Thai coach Kittipong Porncha.
Jaja Santiago made 11 points for the Filipina squad, which played with a local roster in the third set.
Earlier, Rexona SESC Rio got big plays from three Rio Olympic veterans and put away Hisamitsu Springs Kobe in 122 minutes, 20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 30-32, 15-7, to settle for fifth place.