Gunma Green Wings, with outside hitter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, beat Okayama Seagulls and middle blocker Tran Thi Bich Thuy 3-1 on 1 November in Japan's women's SV.League 2026-2027 season. It was Gunma's second straight win over Okayama after another 3-1 victory a day earlier. Bich Thuy scored 9 points, 1 more than Thanh Thuy, but it was the Vietnam captain who turned the game.
Thanh Thuy changes the match
According to Tuoi Tre, Thanh Thuy again started on the bench. Bich Thuy was in the starting line-up and helped Okayama take the first set 25-17. Gunma coach Masayasu then brought Thanh Thuy on from the start of the second set, with her main job being defence: steady reception and solid blocking. Gunma won the next three sets 25-14, 25-21 and 25-18.
Two sources, two readings
Statistics compared by KBVN+ from Tuoi Tre and SGGP:
| Player | Points | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Tran Thi Bich Thuy (Okayama) | 9 | 7 attack, 1 block, 1 ace (both sources agree) |
| Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (Gunma) | 8 | Tuoi Tre: 6 attack, 2 block; SGGP: all 8 from attack |
Both papers credit Thanh Thuy with 8 points but disagree on how she scored them. Tuoi Tre adds that her defensive contribution does not show up in the numbers.
What it means for Vietnamese volleyball
The two wins keep Gunma 2nd in the East, while Okayama remain bottom of the West, Tuoi Tre reports, adding that Vietnamese fans are unlikely to see the pair face each other again in the league this season.
SGGP says Thanh Thuy will return home to play at the 10th National Sports Games 2026 for Tay Ninh, while Bich Thuy will stay in Japan and will not represent Ha Noi at the Games. SGGP also recalls that Thanh Thuy previously played for PFU Blue Cats, a technical partner of VTV Binh Dien Long An, her parent club.
What comes next
The SV.League 2026-2027 season is scheduled to end in April 2027. According to SGGP, both players' contract extensions in Japan will only be decided after the season.