The second round of the National Volleyball Championship, from July 11-26 in HCM City, will attract 24 teams, including 27 foreign players.

After four volleyball seasons with the participation of foreign players, this is the highest number of foreigners. Of 24 men’s and women’s teams, only two don’t have foreign players.

Most foreign players come from Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand. The Military Zone 5 club is testing two Bulgarian players.

According to the Vietnam Volleyball Federation’s rules, each team can have up to two foreign players but only one is allowed to be on the floor at one time.

The federation said that the presence of many foreign players would help Vietnamese volleyball develop more strongly and professionally.

In the second round of the National Volleyball Championship at the Military Zone 4 and Military Zone 7 sports houses, 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams will compete. The first round took place from March 21-28 in Phu Tho and Ha Tinh provinces.

Men’s and women’s teams will be divided into two groups to play in a round robin. The four top men’s and four women’s teams will enter the finals from July 23-26. The remaining teams will play for rankings. The two men’s and women’s teams coming in 11^th and 12^th will be ousted from the national league.

The men’s teams are: Hoang Long Long An, The Cong, Vietnam Oil and Gas, Military Zone 5, Viet Steel HCM City, Bien Hoa Construction Materials, Border Guard, Ninh Binh, Military Zone 4, Military Zone 9, Ben Tre and current champion Khanh Hoa.

The women’s event will see the following teams: Binh Dien Long An, Bai Bang Paper, PV Oil Thai Binh, Lilama Hai Duong, Air Defence, Vietsovpetro, Phu Rieng Rubber, Vietinbank, Vinh Long, Thanh Hoa and the champion Information High Command.

The champions will receive 100 million dong. The second team will get 70 million dong, the third 30 million dong and the fourth 10 million dong. Eight individuals will also receive awards.

VietNamNet/VNE