Asian champions Thailand outlasted Belgium 3-2 in a five-set thriller here Saturday evening for their first win in the China Women's Volleyball International Tournament.

With the 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 21-25 and 15-13 victory, Thailand improved to an 1-1 win-loss record in the four-team round robin competition.

Chaisri Tapaphaipun led Thailand with 21 points and Thipachot Kanika added 15.

After splitting the first four sets with Thailand, Belgium jumped to an 8-3 lead in the tiebreaker. However, the Thais steadily pulled it back at 11-all with an 8-3 run capped by three consecutive kills of Kanika.

Belgium went up again at 13-11, only to find Thailand run off four unanswered points to wrap up the marathon match in one hour and 53 minutes.

Lise Van Hecke notched team high 21 points, but she could not stop her team from losing their second match in two days.

Earlier on Saturday, China swept past the Dominican Republic 3-0 for their second win in a row while the Dominicans slipped to a 1-1 record.

China will play Thailand in the last round play on Sunday when the Dominican Republic take on Belgium. Endi

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