Vietnamese Volleyball: Progress and Pauses at the 33rd SEA Games

23/12/2025 07:12:00 pandatv

The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand ended with a colorful scene for Vietnamese volleyball, featuring unexpected joys, sorrowful tears, thrilling moments, and encouraging signs for the future.

Starting with the women's volleyball team, their campaign at this event stirred excitement among supporters. In the group stage, Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt's team played convincingly, managed the game well, and overcame regional rivals to advance to the semifinals with steady form. In the semifinal, Vietnam showed determination by beating the Philippines 3-0, rightfully securing a spot in the final.

The final against host Thailand became one of the most unforgettable matches for Vietnamese women's volleyball in recent years. Both teams closely matched each other point by point, extending the contest to a decisive fifth set.

In the final moments, tied at 23-23, the Vietnamese women's team missed the chance to win a historic gold and had to accept the silver after a 2-3 defeat.

After the match, Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt expressed regret over the final decisive play, describing it as a "somewhat cruel" moment for the team, but also stressed that volleyball is a game of highs and lows.

He praised his players for their full effort, especially the tactical change in the fourth set that helped the team catch up to Thailand and produce many memorable rallies. The head coach also sincerely thanked the fans who stood by the team throughout the 33rd SEA Games.

Vietnamese women's volleyball has shown that competing for the SEA Games gold medal is entirely possible. Photo: HT

Coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt's remarks were not just consolation but also reflected the team's fighting spirit: "In 2025, we met Thailand three times, all ending with close 2-3 or 3-2 results. This shows that our level is no longer far from the region's strongest opponent." He believes this is crucial to recognizing the genuine progress of Vietnamese women's volleyball.

Not only Vietnam, but even Thai athletes admitted their opponents played very well, forcing them to double their efforts to win. This admiration partly reveals what the Vietnamese women's team displayed in the final.

Meanwhile, the men's volleyball team faced a challenging SEA Games. They began with determination but failed to keep consistency at decisive moments. In the semifinal against Indonesia, Vietnam led 2-0 but was overturned 2-3. In the bronze medal match, they lost their advantage again and were defeated by the Philippines 2-3, finishing fourth overall. This result was disappointing compared to initial expectations.

Overall, Vietnamese volleyball at the 33rd SEA Games is more than just about results. The women's team brought home an emotional silver medal, demonstrating the gradual maturation of a growing volleyball nation.

The Vietnamese men's volleyball team missed out on medals at the 2025 SEA Games after their opponents came from behind.

Although the men's team did not earn medals, they showcased exciting matches, proving strong potential and competitiveness. The success in beach volleyball, with bronze medals in both men's and women's categories, also highlights the depth of this sport in Vietnam.

The 33rd SEA Games have passed, leaving behind valuable lessons. For the Vietnamese women's volleyball team, nearing the regional peak is a promise of a near future where they can claim gold.

For the men's team, the challenge lies in psychological strength and capitalizing on opportunities at critical moments. From these experiences, Vietnamese volleyball can continue to write new chapters filled with greater ambition and confidence than ever before.

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