Fiery Chinese go for sweep, title repeat vs Pinay tossers

There could be no more stopping Tianjin Bridgestone China for a title-repeat in the Asian Club Volleyball Championship with only Accel Philippines standing on its way for a sweet sweep.

The Chinese could well easily put the wraps on the 2006 Hitachi Asian Club crown as they have the lowly host squad as final assignment in the penultimate play date of the weeklong event today at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Chinese and the RP volleybelles clash at 4 p.m. with the foreign squad expected to put up another dazzling display of their court savvy to complete a successful defense of the title they won back home last year.

Rahat-Kazakhstan and Sang Som-Thailand, which are tied at third place with identical 2-2 win-loss marks, part ways at 2 p.m. while Hisamitsu Seiyaku Springs-Japan, tied with Accel at fifth at 1-3, is expected to move ahead, being the favorite against Garuda-Indonesia in their 6 p.m. tiff.

All eyes, however, could well be on Tianjin Bridgestone as it goes for an outright championship versus Accel.

Barring a major disaster, the Chinese are expected to wallop the Filipinas and close out their campaign in the seven-nation tourney with a perfect six-of-six showing.

"We expect to win our last game. We have plenty of advantages against the Philippines, but we know the host team will try its best," said Tianjin Bridgestone coach Wang Baoquan.

They’ve won all their first five matches via a rout, dropping only one set against the Thais on opening day.

The Filipinas, meanwhile, have won only once against the Indons and lost their three other games all via a three-setter.

The Chinese practically put the locks on the championship as they smothered the Taiwanese Saturday and the Kazakhs Sunday.

Runners-up in the annual tourney last year, the Taiwanese are assured of the same result with a 4-1 record.

The rest of the teams play for final placings at the close of the tourney tomorrow in the same venue. The event is sponsored by Hitachi, Shakey‚s Pizza, Accel, D-Load and Hope.