Soun Channaro celebrates with his teammates and the leaders of the Cambodian Volleyball Federation (CVF) after defeating the interior ministry in the final of the Sar Kheng Cup. CVF
Despite retiring from the Cambodian national volleyball team, Soun Channaro has continued to maintain his reputation as the top setter in the sport. He played a pivotal role in helping the Svay Rieng Provincial Police team win their first-ever title in the prestigious Sar Kheng Cup.
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His contributions were crucial in securing victory for the team in a dramatic final against the Ministry of Interior team.
The final, held at the National Olympic Stadium Sports Complex on Monday night, saw the Svay Rieng team facing a daunting task after losing the first two sets to the interior ministry side. The scores were 25-23 and 25-15, leaving many spectators unsure of Svay Rieng's chances.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, Svay Rieng bounced back and won the next three sets with scores of 25-20, 26-24, and 18-16, claiming the championship and a prize of 50 million riel ($12,500), awarded by Sar Sokha, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Interior.
The ministry team was visibly emotional after dropping their lead and placing second, but still came away with a purse of 20 million riel ($5,000).
In the playoff for third, Unit A of the Army Command, who lost to Svay Rieng in the semifinals, triumphed over the Takeo Provincial Police team 3-1 to secure third place and a prize of 12 million riel ($6,000).
In the final match, the 1.9m (6 ft 3in) Channaro was instrumental in setting up several crucial plays, allowing his teammates to deliver decisive attacks. As captain, he not only played an important role in setting up the ball but also helped maintain unity and mental strength within his squad.
After the match, he was awarded Best Setter of the Tournament. His teammate Herrera Cambrera won the Best Outside Hitter award, while Khim Sovandara was named the Best Libero.
Svay Rieng Provincial Police (in yellow) take on the Ministry of Interior team in front of a packed crowd in the final of the Sar Kheng Cup on December 23. CVF
Thy Menghuong from the interior ministry squad received two individual awards: Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Spiker. Chheang Chi Veng from the A Unit of the Army Command and Phol Ratanak from Ta Keo Provincial Police won the Best Middle Blocker awards. Kuon Mom, a national representative who helped Ta Keo earn a victory in their match, won the Best Right-side Spiker award.
Reflecting on the historic win, Channaro praised his team's determination and effort, especially highlighting Cambrera's perseverance. Despite a difficult injury, Cambrera insisted on continuing to play. Channaro also mentioned the contribution of Tuy Kosal, who adapted well to the team's strategies during the tournament.
“I told him (Herrera Cambrera) to come off, but he insisted on staying, and I admire his desire for the team to win. As for Tuy Kosal, I worked with him to improve his play, and when he told me to stop setting for him in the final set, I still trusted him to make the decisive play,” he explained.
Aing Serey Piseth, secretary-general of the Cambodian Volleyball Federation (CVF), praised the success of the tournament.
New rules, which allowed each team to have a maximum of two A-level or national team players and one foreign player on the court, created a highly competitive environment.
Serey Piseth also highlighted the participation of 31 teams from across the country, and how the event showcased the growing quality and competitiveness of Cambodian volleyball.
“This was the final event of the year for the federation, and what excites me most is the growing involvement of top clubs. The results show great improvement, and this motivates the leadership and club representatives to further strengthen their teams to compete for the trophy next year. The federation plans to organize even more events in the future,” he added.
