Vietnamese snare Challenger Cup bronze

MANILA, Philippines — Vietnam fell short in securing a first Women’s Volleyball Nations League spot but managed to post its best finish in the FIVB Challenger Cup with a bronze-medal feat at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

The Vietnamese, ranked just 32nd in the FIVB rankings, stunned the World No. 13 Belgians, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, to seal their worthiest performance in the annual event after ending up at eighth and dead last a year ago in Laval, France.

Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen unloaded a tournament-best 35 points to make up for her lackluster 12-hit performance in a stinging 25-19, 25-14, 25-19 setback to Czech Republic in Saturday’s semis that denied Vietnam a crack at the gold and precious seat in the VNL main draw.

The Czechs and the Puerto Ricans were battling for that slot in the finale at press time.

It was the second straight 30-point effort for the towering, crisp-hitting outside spiker after dropping 30 versus Alas Pilipinas in a 25-14, 25-22, 25-21 triumph in the quarters Friday.