VOLLEYBALL

LIVE UPDATE FROM TOA PAYOH SPORTS HALL

National ‘A’ Division Boys Final
Anderson Junior College vs Nanyang Junior College
Wednesday, 16 May 2007, at Toa Payoh Sports Hall

Story by Lee Hwee Cheng.  © Red Sports /soulbreath pictures

Nanyang Junior College beat defending championship Anderson Junior College 14-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21 to emerge victorious in the National ‘A’ Division Championship Final this afternoon. A play-by-play account of the final can be read below.

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Hello, everybody!

Welcome, welcome to another round of live reporting here on Red Sports.  Hope you’re liking it.

I’m Cheng, and I’m here at Toa Payoh Sports Hall this afternoon for the National ‘A’ Division Volleyball Championship Finals and we’re kicking off with the Boys Final in a short while, where Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) will be giving defending champions Anderson Junior College (AJC) a run for their money.

Leslie is here with me today, and he’ll be bringing you the action shots of the day.

Stay tuned!

NYJC’s Goh Jun Rui spikes against Tang Tak Seng of AJC. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

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AJC’s Fabian Lim powers a smash towards the NYJC half. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Set 4
–  NYJC win fourth set 25-21, and the championship in 3-1 sets.
–  NYJC’s Lucas Lim (no.12) fires a cross-court spike that AJC libero Tan Wee Kiat (no.18) deflects out of bounds!
–  AJC block an NYJC spike but fail to maintain ball possession.  NYJC move into match-point 24-21!
–  NYJC serve into the net!  AJC regain serve 21-23.
–  NYJC’s Goh Jun Rui (no.11) makes an uncertain weak spike but AJC deflect the ball out of bounds on the return, and NYJC inch closer to set-point at 23-20.
–  AJC regain serve with a spike at 20-22.

AJC’s Luke Tan tries to get his smash through the NYJC block. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

–  NYJC’s Benny Lau makes a cross-court spike that AJC fail to anticipate and NYJC pull further ahead 22-19.
–  AJC send a spike out of bounds and NYJC continue lead 21-19.
–  NYJC’s Sim Sze Keong (no.5) make an excellent cross-court spike and NYJC regain the lead 20-19.
–  NYJC win the point after a long rally and level 19-19.
–  NYJC send a spike out of bounds and AJC lead 19-18.
–  AJC send the ball out of bounds and NYJC level 18-18.
–  AJC win a point and serve 18-17.
–  The game is now levelled at 17-17.
–  The reporter is close to tears – first the volleyball lands on her laptop, then she has to deal with technical malfunction.  But all’s hopefully back to normal now.
–  AJC’s Fabian Lim fires a spike and AJC lead 6-5.
–  AJC level the game 5-5 and regain serve.
–  AJC block NYJC spike but the ball goes out of bounds.  NYJC serve 5-4.
–  AJC win a point from a spike and regain serve 4-4.
–  AJC’s Liao Jun Jie (no.9) spikes another one into the net and NYJC lead 4-3.
–  AJC spike the ball into the net, and NYJC level 3-3.
–  NYJC’s Lucas sends a spike into centre court and AJC fail to return.  NYJC serve 2-3.
–  AJC make a spike that is ruled inbounds.  AJC lead 3-1.
–  NYJC’s Lucas sends a spike that AJC return out of bounds, and win serve 1-2.
–  AJC block off NYJC’s attack and hold serve 2-0.
–  AJC win first point with a spike and serve 1-0.

NYJC’s Lucas Lim (back to camera) powers his spike through the block of AJC’s Tang Tak Seng (no.11). © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Set 3
–  NYJC win third set 25-13 and lead the game 2-1.
–  AJC block NYJC’s spike but the ball gets deflected out of bounds.
–  AJC regain serve 13-24.
–  NYJC move into set-point 24-12.
–  NYJC inch towards set-point 23-12.
–  AJC gain a point from NYJC’s defensive fumble and serve 11-22.
–  AJC make a poor serve and NYJC lead 22-10.
–  AJC commits a poor return on NYJC’s attack and the ball goes out of bounds.  NYJC pull further away, but move closer to another set-point at 21-9.
–  AJC send a spike out of bounds and NYJC widen the lead 20-9.
–  It is NYJC’s Lucas Lim again, with another unreturned spike.  NYJC lead 19-9.
–  AJC make a point and serve 9-18.
–  NYJC regain serve with a spike 18-8.
–  NYJC finally wins a point from a spike and regain serve 8-17.
–  NYJC make yet another defensive block off AJC’s Zhaoliang’s spike and now lead 17-7.
–  NYJC lead 16-7.  AJC slide into a slump.
–  NYJC win another point from AJC’s violation and lead 15-7.
–  NYJC block AJC’s Yan Zhaoliang’s spike and hold serve 14-7.
–  NYJC’s Lucas Lim spikes another one, and NYJC lead 13-7.

NYJC’s Jackson Yeo serves one up against AJC. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

–  AJC’s defense sends a return out of bounds, and NYJC widen the gap 12-7.
–  NYJC block AJC’s Tang Tak Seng’s spike and hold serve 11-7.
–  NYJC’s Tan Ting Yong (no.4) spikes to backcourt and the ball is ruled inbounds.  NYJC lead 10-7.
–  NYJC hold serve 9-7.
–  NYJC’s James Loh (no.9) makes a spike that AJC fail to return and regains lead 8-7.
–  NYJC’s Yan Guangyu (no.10) makes a wonderful save but NYJC still loses the point in that game.  AJC level 6-6.
–  AJC send a serve out of bounds and NYJC serve 6-5.
–  AJC block another NYJC spike and level the game 5-5.
–  NYJC make a spike that AJC fail to return and regain serve 5-3.
–  AJC block NYJC’s Goh Jun Rui’s soft drop and AJC serve 3-4.
–  NYJC hold serve 4-2.
–  NYJC block AJC’s attack successfully, and lead 3-2.
–  NYJC level 2-2.
–  AJC’s Liao Jun Jie (no.9) makes a clever drop cross-court and wins serve 2-1.
–  AJC serves out of bounds, and NYJC serve 1-1.
–  AJC win first point when NYJC send a ball out of bounds.

NYJC’s libero Ang Soon Heng digs one out for his team. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Set 2
–  NYJC win the second set 25-21 and level the game 1-1.
–  NYJC’s Jackson Yeo serves a long ball into the backcourt that stumbles AJC’s Wee Kiat, and the ball is ruled inbound.
–  NYJC move into set-point 24-21.
–  AJC make another block but the ball goes out of bounds.  NYJC move closer to set-point 23-21.
–  AJC block a NYJC counter-attack and serve 21-22.
–  NYJC send a return out of bounds and AJC serve 20-22.
–  NYJC’s Lucas powers a spike that knocks AJC’s libero Tan Wee Kiat over.  NYJC serve 22-19.
–  AJC block off NYJC’s Ting Yong spike and remain just two points behind 19-21.
–  AJC win serve 18-21.
–  NYJC’s Tan Ting Yong powers another spike and regain serve 20-17.
–  AJC regain serve from NYJC’s defensive blunder at 17-19.
–  AJC gain another point and give chase at 16-18.
–  AJC serve into the net, and NYJC regain serve 18-15.
–  NYJC make a poor judgement in defense and AJC serve 15-17.
–  NYJC’s Goh Jun Rui (no.11) sends a powerful spike and NYJC regain serve 17-14.
–  AJC gain a point and inch in 14-16.
–  AJC block NYJC’s Lucas spike and regain serve 13-16.
–  NYJC lead 16-12.

AJC’s Murphy Ong gets ready to receive a ball. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

–  NYJC’s Tan Ting Yong sends a spike cross-court that is unanticipated.  NYJC lead 15-11.
–  AJC regain serve 11-14.
–  Another spike from NYJC widens the lead 14-10.
–  AJC defense fumbles and NYJC moves ahead 13-10.
–  NYJC’s Lucas Lim pulls the lead away 12-10 with a spike.
–  NYJC take over lead 11-10.
–  NYJC level 10-10 with a Jackson spike.
–  NYJC’s Tan Ting Yong (no.4) makes a spike that is blocked by AJC.  AJC lead 10-9.
–  AJC levels the game 9-9.
–  NYJC’s Jackson Yeo wins the lead 9-8 with a spike.
–  AJC’s Jun Yang spikes again and AJC lead 8-7.
–  NYJC level the game 7-7 with a spike from Goh Jun Rui (no.11)
–  AJC’s Lee Jun Yang (no.7) makes a fake then a spike, and AJC lead 7-6.
–  NYJC regain serve with a spike and lead 6-5.
–  But AJC’s Murphy Ong (no.6) makes a spike that catches NYJC offguard and levels the game 5-5.
–  Oh dear, camera-time again.  And NYJC have moved into an early 5-3 lead.

AJC’s Liao Jun Jie about to spike against NYJC. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Set 1
–  AJC win first set 25-14.
–  AJC’s Tang Tak Seng (no.11) make a spike to the right court and NYJC fail to anticipate.
–  AJC win serve and move into set-point 24-13.
–  NYJC regain lead at 13-23.
–  AJC’s Fabian Lim makes a powerful spike and NYJC deflect it out of bounds.  AJC move ahead 23-12.
–  AJC move closer to set-point at 22-12.
–  AJC’s Lee Jun Yang (no.7) spikes and AJC lead 21-11.
–  AJC’s Liao Jun Jie (no.9) serves into the net and NYJC serve 11-20.
–  NYJC lose a point with a rotational violation.  AJC serve 20-10.
–  AJC regain serve at 19-9.
–  NYJC regain serve at 9-18.
–  AJC block off NYJC Lucas’ spike and widen the lead 17-8.
–  AJC hold serve at 16-8 with another backcourt spike.
–  NYJC send a spike out of bounds and AJC regain serve 15-8.
–  NYJC’s Jackson Yeo makes an impressive spike and regains serve 7-13.
–  AJC’s Fabian strikes again and AJC lead 13-6.
–  NYJC block AJC’s Fabian’s spike and serve 6-12.
–  NYJC win the serve with a spike but AJC’s Fabian spikes again and regain serve 12-5.
–  NYJC’s Peh Rui Jie (no.13) sends a spike out of bounds, and AJC widen lead 11-4.
–  NYJC’s Benny sends a spike that AJC successfully blocks!  AJC serve 9-4.
–  NYJC send a spike out of bounds and AJC hold serve 8-4.
–  NYJC’s defense stumbles a little, and AJC gain one more point to lead 7-4.
–  AJC have taken over the lead at 6-4.
–  AJC level the game at 2-2, but NYJC’s Lucas Lim (no.12) makes an unreturned spike and move ahead 3-2.
–  NYJC make two consecutive spikes and lead 2-1.
–  AJC’s Fabian Lim (no.12) sends his first serve and NYJC’s Benny Lau (no.3) fails to return!  AJC lead 1-0.

Editor’s note: More action shots in the Picture Gallery.

AJC player in warm-up routine before the Final.  © Lee Hwee Cheng