Southeast Asian Games
- Badminton Stadium Cheras
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Aug. 19-30, 2017
- Schedule/Results
Men’s Semifinals
Thailand def. Vietnam 3-2 (22-25, 16-25, 29-27, 25-15, 20-18)
Indonesia def. Myanmar 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 24-26, 34-32, 15-12)
Thailand earned the right to defend its SEA Games crown with a hard-fought five-set victory over 2015 runner-up Vietnam on Saturday. The Thai team will vie for its fourth-straight event title against Indonesia, after that squad edged Myanmar in a five-set semifinals affair.
The final will be a rematch from the 2015 semifinals where Thailand swept Indonesia en route to the title.
Thailand 3, Vietnam 2
After dropping the first two sets, Thailand charged back to win three straight and make its way to the SEA Games finals.
Vietnam won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-16 and led 24-23 in the third set, but could not close it out. Thailand rallied behind Jirayu Raksakaew, Kissada Nilsawai and Kitsada Somkane to steal away the 29-27 victory and extend the match.
In Set 4, Thailand looked like the defending champions, cruising to a 25-15 win. The tiebreaker was a back-and-forth affair, but in the end, Thailand squeaked by at 20-18 to advance to the gold medal match.
Raksakew scored 19 points, including 17 kills, while Nilsawai and Somkane chipped in 17 points each.
Hong Van Phuong managed a match-high 26 points, including 25 kills, for Vietnam.
Indonesia 3, Myanmar 2
Indonesia remained unbeaten in SEA Games play with a hard-fought, five-set win over Myanmar in the event semifinals. The Indonesians had to battle back from down 2-1 in the match to pull off a 34-32 victory in Set 4 and fight to a 15-12 win in the tiebreak.
Myanmar won the first set 25-22, but that sparked a revival in the Indonesian ranks and a 25-17 Set 2 victory. Aung Thu lifted Myanmar to a 26-24 victory and gave them the lead in the match. Rendi Febriant Tamamilang and Rivan Nurmulki lifted Indonesia in Set 4, setting up the final set comeback and finals berth.
Women’s Semifinals
Thailand def. Philippines 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-17)
Indonesia def. Vietnam 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 29-27, 15-25, 15-13)
Thailand will look to repeat as SEA Games champions for the 11th straight time as the women took out the Philippines in a sweep on Saturday. On the other side of the net in Sunday’s final will be Indonesia, which earned its spot after a back-and-forth five set semifinal match with eight-time runner-up Vietnam. The final is a rematch of a Pool A matchup, which Thailand won 3-0.
Thailand 3, Philippines 0
Thailand was led by longtime national team member Pleumjit Thinkaow and newcomers Chatchu-on Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot in Saturday’s sweep.
In Set 1, Thailand took a while to find its footing, meanwhile the Philippines kept pace, leading to a 17-all tie. The Thai team eventually won out at 25-21 and went on to hold its foes at bay over the next two sets.
Thinkaow and Kokram chipped in 13 points apiece to pace the victors. Thinkaow downed 11 kills, a block and an ace, while Kokram’s haul all came via kill.
Alyja Daphne Santiago and Alyssa Caymo Valdez led the Philippines with 10 kills apiece.
Indonesia 3, Vietnam 2
Pertiwi Megawati Hangestri and Manganang Aprilia Santini scored 23 and 22 points respectively as Indonesia scored an improbable upset of defending silver medalists Vietnam on Saturday.
Hangestri managed 21 kills and Sanitini chipped in 20 in the win, while Agustina Putri Andya put up four blocks and Nurfadhilah Sugandi Siti served up four aces.
On the Vietnamese side, Ngoc Diem Ha and Thi Ngoc Hoa tallied 20 points apiece. Hoa notched 10 kills and a match-high 10 blocks, while Ha added 15 kills.
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