Border Guard MB wins a thrilling match against The Cong Tan Cang, maintaining unbeaten streak in the 2026 National Volleyball Championship

The "Military Derby" between Border Guard MB and The Cong Tan Cang unfolded as an exciting spectacle, with both teams engaging in a breathless chase that lasted five sets. Ultimately, reigning champion Border Guard MB secured a 3-2 victory to continue their perfect winning record and firmly hold the top spot in the standings.

Right from the start, The Cong Tan Cang surprised by deploying Ha Manh Hung and Chinese foreign player Zhihong Xue in the starting lineup. Coach Thai Anh Van's decision quickly proved effective. Zhihong Xue demonstrated the caliber of a Chinese league MVP with fiery spikes, while Manh Tai and Thanh Tung excelled at blocking at the net. The Cong Tan Cang led and concluded the set with a decisive ace serve from Manh Hung (25-21).

In the second set, Border Guard MB gradually found their rhythm and displayed champion's composure. Main attacker Ngoc Thuan and captain Van Hiep began rediscovering their attacking touch, while auxiliary attacker The Khai utilized his long reach to neutralize the attacks from The Cong Tan Cang. The set ended with a 25-19 score favoring Border Guard MB, allowing the reigning champion to level the match 1-1.

Set 3 witnessed a strong resurgence from The Cong Tan Cang. The high performance of Xue Zhihong, Trung Thanh, and Manh Hung enabled The Cong Tan Cang to dominate completely. Although Ngoc Thuan had shining moments helping Border Guard MB narrow the gap, The Cong Tan Cang remained in full control of the game. Once again, Ha Manh Hung delivered an ace to help The Cong Tan Cang finish the set with a 25-18 score.

Trailing 1-2, Border Guard MB had to win the fourth set. In this must-win situation, Coach Tran Dinh Tien and his team demonstrated steely resolve. Even when pressured by The Cong Tan Cang at 15-17, Ngoc Thuan's delicate plays helped Border Guard MB widen the gap. A successful appeal at a critical moment pushed the score to 24-19, before Border Guard MB sealed the set 25-20, sending the match into the decisive fifth set.

In the fateful final set, the reigning champion's experience spoke at the right moment. Ngoc Thuan continued to be the soul of Border Guard MB's play, leading the team to surge ahead 9-5. Although foreign player Zhihong Xue fought fiercely to reduce the deficit to 9-11, a series of unfortunate serving errors at the decisive moment cost The Cong Tan Cang their opportunity. Border Guard MB capitalized fully on their opponent's mistakes to win 15-11, sealing a dramatic 3-2 overall victory.

With this win, Border Guard MB continues their perfect winning streak and leads the standings. Meanwhile, The Cong Tan Cang has 3 wins and 3 losses after 6 matches, temporarily ranking third with 10 points.