Top scorer Andreas Frangos of Greece hits past the double block of Chinese Taipei.
Kozani, Greece, June 19, 2016 - Chinese Taipei took Greece by surprise in the first set, but the home side pulled together to come back for a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22) win that keeps them in the lead of the race for a ticket to the FIVB World League Group 3 Final Four.
The match started with both teams fighting tooth and nail for a lead before a 6-point streak let the visitors grab a 16-13 lead at the second technical time-out. They were able to preserve the advantage to take the opener, 25-22.
After dropping the opening set Greece bounced back strongly in the following set. Frangos' powerful spikes proved too much for the Asians' block as Greece kept the play under control to snatch the set, 25-18.
The third set say both team tied until 18-all when a three-point run by Greece gave them an important late lead. Koumentakis served an ace to hand his team a win, 25-21 and put them in front in the match.
Chinese Taipei desperately tried to stay alive in the fourth set, fighting tooth and nail as they rallied from 19-17 to briefly lead 19-20 and 20-21, before Greece made the final push to close the game. A thundering double block from Nikos Smaragdis and Rafail Koumentakis on Liu Hong-Jie for match point sent the sellout crowd wild.
Andreas Frangos led Greece on 20 points, including an astonishing 86% kill rate (18/21). Captain Mitar Djuric, who again rested in the last set, contributed another 15.
Wang Ming Chun was top scorer of Chinese Taipei with 15 points.