LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE: Team captain Chien Chin Hao spikes through the Pahang defence during their group match at MBSA Hall Section 19 in Shah Alam yesterday. Sarawak won 3-1. — Photo by Helen Tang
The state’s spikers quest for gold in Sukma XVI men’s volleyball got off to a great start when they beat Pahang 3-1 in the opening Group B match at MBSA Hall at Section 19, Shah Alam yesterday.
Coach Philip Ling Swee Ngee had anxious moments throughout the match and when it was finally over, he sighed with great relief, saying: “This the first time I felt so nervous.”
Missing two key players, Jackson Ting Kiet Sing and Brandon Kiew Kwang Yi who were away playing in the Asean School Championship, Sarawak took the first and second sets 25-20 and 25-16 but were caught off guard by a sudden change in strategy by Pahang to lose 18-25 in the third set.
However, Sarawak adjusted their strategies and game play to bounce back and win the next two sets 25-18, 25-23.
“We have only 10 players playing in this match and to have such a result is not bad,” said Ling who added the Sarawak team needed to be more careful when serving.
He said the chance of beating Terengganu in today’s match will be 50-50 but with Ting and Kiew rejoining the team he is confident of registering another victory.
In the last Sukma in Kuantan, Pahang last year, Sarawak finished fifth in men’s volleyball.