SIBU: An interesting battle line has been drawn for the showdown in the 2014 Sarawak Open Volleyball Championship which will be held at Rejang Park Volleyball Court here at 8am from tomorrow.
The eight teams that have entered for the competition are divided into two groups which Group A comprising Sibu A, Kuching, Limbang and Miri.
In Group B are Sibu B, Mukah, Meradong and Bintulu.
Sibu A, Sibu B, Meradong and Mukah should command greater respect but among the teams, there was no clear favorites.
“The team that makes the least mistakes will lift the title, that is definite,” said a source from the volleyball fraternity here.
Both Sibu A and Sibu B comprising former Sukma players should be able to excel during the championship.
Fast rising team Mukah, last year first runner-up, had been a revelation of late and the team should never be taken lightly.
“Mukah team has been putting in serious efforts to revolutionise and revitalise the team players. They are the team to watch,” the source added.
Meradong team is also making a long-awaited comeback and had produced a string of impressive results in the past two years, following the lift of the ban imposed on the team some three years ago over disciplinary problem.
Even then, the source said the remaining four teams, Kuching, Limbang, Miri and Bintulu were coming not just to make the numbers.
“They are also eyeing for the title and they are coming with confidence that they will be able to bring back something.”
For the fixtures, Kuching will take on Limbang at 8am, followed by the Sibu versus Miri match at 9.15pm.
Sibu B will take on Mukah B at 10.30am, followed by the Meradong versus Bintulu match at 11.45pm.
The afternoon match will start at 3pm, featuring the Limbang versus Miri and followed by the Mukah versus Bintulu at 4.15pm before the championship breaks off for the opening ceremony at 5.30pm.
In the evening, Sibu A will meet Kuching at 6pm, followed by the Sibu B versus Meradong match at 7.15pm.
On July 27, four more group matches will be played in the morning from 8am.
The women’s teams will also feature an exhibition match on July 28 at 7pm.
The final matches will be held on July 28, followed by the closing ceremony at 11.30pm.
The tournament, organised by the Sarawak Volleyball Association (Sava) and hosted by Sibu Division Volleyball Association is aimed at selecting the state players for the national championship in Shah Alam, Selangor from Aug 20-24.
Last year, Sarawak’s women’s team emerged as champions while the men’s team finished fourth.