Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, September 22,2008 -- Korea and Japan on Monday continued their unbeaten run to top Group A and Group B in the on-going inaugural Asian Men’s Cup Volleyball Championship at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall.

On the final day of the group round-robin preliminaries, Kroea beat Thailan 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-17) and Iran edged China 3-2 (23-25 17-25 25-15 25-21 15-7) in Group A while Chinese Taipei downed Indonesia in straight sets and Japan defeated Australia in five sets (25-20, 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13)

At the end of the group round-robin preliminaries on Monday, South Korea topped Group A with six points from three wins, followed by Iran with five points from two wins against one loss. China had four points from one win against two losses and Thailand have yet won a single set to collect three points.

Undefeated Japan topped Group B with six points from three wins. Australia finished second with five points from two wins against one loss to Japan. Chinese Taipei came in third place with four points from one win agains two losses and Indonesia finished fourth with three points from three successive losses.

title-hotshots and the Doha Asian Games champions Korea, current world number 19, pulled off a scintillating 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 victory over hosts Thailand in a 65-minute contest in Group A.

Yuranan Boudang led the Thai squad with 17 points, while Moon Sung-Min collected the similar points to emerge as the highest scorer for the visitors.

“We played well, but it was not good enough to match the might and the greater experience of South Korea. As far as I see my boys play in the match, they played well only in the beginning, but their form tailed off at the end,” Thai head coach Monchai Supajirakul commented.

“I admit that the Koreans’ jump serves were very powerful, which allowed my players tough times receiving. Our attacking and serving were quite okay, but we need more improvement on blocking,” he added.

In the other encounter, world number 24 Iran stunned world number 10 and Asian Games silver medalists China with a dramatic come-from-behind five-set 23-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-21, 15-7 triumph in one hour, 47 minutes.

In Group B, Chinese Taipei, current world number 40, outclassed the South East Asian Games winners and world number 40 Indonesia in hard-fought three-setter 28-26 25-23 25-16.

The day’s last match was more thrilling when the two winning teams - Japan, joint 11th place in the recent Beijing Olympic Games and world number 11, and world number 13 and the last year’s Asian champions Australia - vied for the Group B winners.

Despite the height advantage from Aussies, whose height average is 201cm against the rivals’ 190cm, Japan kept up the pressure by taking the first set 25-20. The Australians, led by hard-attacking Nathan Roberts and scintillating blocker Zane Christensen, counter-attacked exceptionally well to make amends by clinching the close second set 25-23. After taking the set, Australia rolled on their rhythm to capture the third set 25-23, again in a hard-fought battle, for a 2-1 advantage.

In the fourth set, Japan dramatically improved their tactics, with Yasuyuki Shibakoya attacking devastatingly at the net. The fast-improving Japanese continued their consistency en route to bagging the set 25-19.

Both sides gave it all out in the decider, hoping to win the set and the match. After leads changed hands for a few times, Japan upped their tempo to eventually end the Australian challenge 15-13.

Tuesday is the rest day. The quarter-finals will take place on Wednesday, with the Koreans taking on winless Indonesia (fourth Group B), Iran playing Chinese Taipei (third Group B), while Thailand will challenge Japan and China go up against Australia.

Team ranking After group round-robin preliminaries(tabulated under matches played, won, lost and points):

G roup A

1. Korea 3 3 0 6

2. Iran 3 2 1 5

3. China 3 1 2 4

4. Thailand 3 0 3 3

Group B

1. Japan 3 3 0 6

2. Australia 3 2 1 5

3. Chinese Taipei 3 1 2 4

4. Indonesia 3 0 3 3