Le Thanh Thuy endures pain, alongside 1.89m import to send Hanoi Tasco Auto to the 2026 Vietnam National Volleyball Championship final

On the afternoon of October 24 at Vinh Long Provincial Gymnasium, the 2026 Vietnam National Women's Volleyball Championship semifinal between Hanoi Tasco Auto and Hoa Chat Duc Giang Lao Cai began with explosive attacks. The moment that made the crowd hold its breath came in set two. Le Thanh Thuy, a middle blocker just returning from injury, stopped after a block attempt. She held her shoulder and limped off the court. Hanoi Tasco Auto lost its key net presence while the opponent led by five points. It was the harshest test for a team chasing the championship dream. Hanoi Tasco Auto entered the semifinal with its strongest lineup, featuring Serbian outside hitter Brankica Mihajlovic, a 2026 world champion, and Le Thanh Thuy, a pillar of the Vietnam national team. Across the net, Hoa Chat Duc Giang Lao Cai relied on Thai outside hitter Kuttika Kaewpin and middle blockers Ly Thi Luyen and Bich Thuy. Hanoi coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet remained calm, while Hoa Chat coach Nguyen Huu Ha tried to turn the match with tactical changes. The season has seen the return of clubs after an active transfer window, with the model of high-profile imports combined with national-team core players dominating. From set one, Hoa Chat entered confidently. They stayed tight until the end of the set, but a reception error cost them 21-25. That was the first sign that Hoa Chat's reception system was vulnerable to Hanoi's serving pressure. In set two, Hoa Chat surged to a five-point lead, forcing Le Thanh Thuy and her teammates to chase. It was then that Le Thanh Thuy's injury flared up. She left the court, and Hanoi's system immediately looked unsettled. Quick attacks lost sharpness, and the block lost its anchor. Coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet used a substitute, but the gap at the net could not be filled. Still, Hanoi held on and closed set two 25-22. Le Thanh Thuy then asked to return. Her comeback changed the match: she delivered effective blocks and gave the defense stability. Set three was one-sided. Hoa Chat tried rotations, substitutions, and tactical adjustments, but nothing worked. Hanoi Tasco Auto won 25-17 and completed a 3-0 victory after 75 minutes. Bich Thuy had an impressive scoring run for Hoa Chat, but it was not enough. Brankica Mihajlovic, at 1.89 meters, was the main offensive anchor. She handled difficult balls, drew blockers, and created openings for teammates. Based on my experience following matches, her value lies not in powerful spikes alone but in keeping the rhythm when Hanoi's reception broke down. The combination of an experienced domestic middle blocker and a world-class import formed a reliable axis, although the style still depended heavily on two outstanding individuals. In set three, Hanoi accelerated, Hoa Chat ran out of answers, and the margin widened from four to eight points. That is a classic sign of a team gaining full control in blocking and defense. One might call this a victory of stars. But behind that label is a real issue: the tournament depends heavily on imports and a few core players. Without Mihajlovic and Thanh Thuy, would the story change? Looking at the data, this match had almost no published individual statistics. Everything was qualitative praise. It reminds me of the story from the World Cup in Russia: when attention focuses on glamour and ignores real data, injustice begins. People say I write too personally. But I believe that is precisely what gives a voice meaning. The final takes place on October 25, just one day later. Hanoi Tasco Auto will face the winner of the other semifinal between VTV Binh Dien Long An and Binh chung Thong tin – Binh doan 19. If the defending champion Long An advances, the pressure will be greater. But what I value most in women's sports is not victory; it is how they rise after every setback. Le Thanh Thuy proved that in the semifinal. The open question remains: will she recover in time to help her team lift the trophy?