KUCHING: The Kuching Division volleyball players have performed up to expectations at the recent Sibu Open Volleyball Championship that ended at the Rejang Park Volleyball Court last Sunday.
FINE OUTING: Kuching women's teams posing for a photo call. Photo courtest of Chai Poh Fatt
According to Kuching head coach Chai Poh Fatt, both the men’s and women’s teams finished third in the 12-team competition.
“I am very pleased with the good performance put up by our players and we have achieved our target of finishing among the top three teams in the championship,” he said yesterday.
Chai, who is also KDVA secretary and the national girls team trainer, said Kuching could have achieved a better result but unfortunately lost narrowly to their opponents.
In the group matches, Kuching men, playing in Group A, opened their campaign with a 2-0 (25-17, 25-22) win over Miri, followed by another 2-0 (25-14, 25-22) win over Sarikei B but lost 1-2 (19-25, 25-19, 13-15) to Sibu Junior to enter the last four.
“It was a very close fight against Sibu Senior in the semi-final. We were leading in the deciding set but lost by only two points,” said Chai.
Sibu Senior edged Kuching 2-1 (17-25, 25-20, 15-13) to set up the final with Sibu Junior who defeated Sarikei A 2-0 (25-15, 25-17) in another semi-final.
The Kuching team comprising a good mixture of veteran and junior players beat Sarikei A 3-1 in the play-off for third and fourth placing.
Sibu Senior emerged the men’s champions by edging their junior team 2-1 (23-25, 25-23, 15-12).
Things did not go smoothly for the Kuching women as they were beaten 3-0 by Sibu in their opening match.
“We were trailing Sibu by 2-0 (25-22, 25-21) but leading them by 9-5 in the third set when one of our players Leng Ching Ching got injured. As our reserved player who was due to fly in to Sibu from Kuala Lumpur did not arrive in time for the replacement, we did not have a complete team, so the referee awarded a walkover win 25-9 to Sibu,” added Chai.
However, they scored an easy 2-0 (25-14, 25-22) win over Sibu U-13 in the second match because the age gap and the standard between the two teams was simply too wide.
In their final league match against Sibu U-16 girls who had the services of eight national U-16 players, Kuching were outclassed 1-3 (25-20, 18-25, 12-25 and 19-25).
Kuching men’s team comprised Chai Poh Fatt, Chai King Sing, Leslie Liew, Allan Chan, Chai Wee Ming (captain), Chiew Soon Nguong, Liew Guo Chen, Dylan Goh, Lexter Lee, Richard Wee and Law Yew Thean.
The women’s team was made up of Dinnah Tay (captain), Leng Ching Ching, Ling San San, Jong Min Shien, Jong Min Kee, Hii Pik San, Jessica Mok, Kan Yan Ling and Tie Fong Ling.
Other teams in the men’s competition were PDRM, Sarikei B and PB while the women’s contest saw only four teams taking part.