LPBank Ninh Bình misses out on a 'blockbuster' deal from Europe at the last minute.

LPBank Ninh Bình's ambition to upgrade its squad has been temporarily shelved as the deal to recruit Bosnian main attacker Edina Begic officially could not be finalized before the start of Phase 1 of the 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship.

According to the initial plan, LPBank Ninh Bình was very close to securing Edina Begic's signature. Both sides had positive discussions and were nearly reaching a final agreement.

However, the sticking point was Begic's packed schedule in China. She is currently playing for a club in Beijing and cannot arrange time to come to Vietnam in April, when Phase 1 of the National Championship takes place. This objective factor caused the deal to collapse at the last minute, forcing LPBank Ninh Bình to urgently seek alternative options.

The regret felt by the ancient capital's team is entirely justified, as Edina Begic is not an ordinary foreign player.

Born in 1992, standing at 1.85m tall, possessing a jump reach of up to 3.16m and a block touch of 3.00m, Begic is a comprehensive main attacker, combining power, technique, and top-level experience. In her career, she has played for numerous prestigious clubs in Europe such as Vero Volley Milano, Dinamo Moscow, and Kuzeyboru before moving to compete in China. Notably, while wearing the Milano jersey, Begic twice reached the pinnacle of Europe by winning the CEV Challenge Cup and CEV Cup – achievements few athletes have attained.

At the national team level, she is also a pillar of Bosnia & Herzegovina, playing a major role in helping the team win the 2021 European Silver League gold medal and being honored as the MVP of the tournament.

Notably, Edina Begic is not an unfamiliar name to Vietnamese fans. In the 2025 season, she played impressively for Geleximco Hưng Yên, leaving a distinct mark with her powerful, effective style and stable scoring ability.

That performance led LPBank Ninh Bình to decisively pursue her to strengthen their offensive power, especially as the team aims to compete for the championship after finishing second last season. However, that plan could not become reality.

The inability to recruit Begic will undoubtedly significantly impact LPBank Ninh Bình's ambitions for this season. In a context where rivals are strongly reinforcing their squads, lacking a European-caliber foreign player forces the team to quickly adjust its strategy.

Phase 1 of the 2026 National Women's Volleyball Championship will take place in April in Đông Anh, Hanoi.