Story by Iman Hashim/Red Sports. Photos by Ryan Lim/Red Sports
In the u-14 girls final, Presbyterian High (PHS) claimed the title after defeating Dunman High in straight sets (25-17, 25-15), ending with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record. (Photo 1 © Ryan Lim/Red Sports)
Jurong West Sports Centre, Sunday, June 26, 2016 — Bukit Panjang Government High and Presbyterian High emerged victorious in the under-18 and u-14 categories respectively of the girls’ volleyball competition at the Singapore Youth Olympic Festival (SYOF).
There were a total of six teams battling it out in each of the categories.
Volleyball is one of 11 sports on the SYOF roster this year – along with athletics, 3-on-3 basketball, badminton, fencing, football 7s, rugby 7s, sailing, shooting, table tennis, and taekwondo.
Bukit Panjang Government High (BPGH) clinched the u-18 title after beating VolleySports 2-0 (25-21, 25-21) in the final.
BPGH finished the competition with a 5-1 win-loss record. It was sweet revenge in the final, as their only loss in the group stage came against the same opponents a day earlier, in a 1-2 (19-25, 25-19, 27-29) reversal.
The BPGH team, made up of 17 and 18-year-old alumni from the school, came in second in the SYOF competition last year. When the players represented their school in the B Division, they emerged West Zone champions and made the top eight in Nationals in 2014, and retained their West Zone title and finished fourth in Nationals last year.
The BPGH players said that the main reason they participated in the SYOF competition was the chance to play with one another again. The old teammates had not played volleyball for a long time, and only had one training session prior to the tournament.
They added that they were not expecting to win, as they came in second last year and lost to VolleySports in the group stage.
In the u-14 girls final, Presbyterian High (PHS) claimed the title after defeating Dunman High in straight sets (25-17, 25-15), ending with a perfect 6-0 win-loss record.
The victory was a good warm up for PHS leading up to their C Division season which is due to begin the following week.
Last year, PHS’ C Division team emerged as North Zone champions.
On her hopes for the upcoming season, PHS captain Adeline Sim, 14, said, “We hope to at least get into the top four for Nationals maybe, because in our history we always get top four. For zonals, we are aiming for first.”
On the competition at SYOF, she continued, “I feel we experienced different type of (schools’ style of play) to get ready for our C Div. So we are getting our basics all right first before we play against other schools in North Zone, and so we can play well for Nationals and try win the title.”
“We all did well, we expected to win this SYOF competition. Other schools say that we are actually the strongest opponent, so hopefully we can win the Nationals too.”
U-18 Girls Bukit Panjang Govt High Roster
Yen Li Peng, Lim Tian Li, Felicia Tan, Serene Ng, Seow Shi Jie, Tan Qiu Feng, Yvonne Pua, Wee Wan Qi, Jasmine Tan, Ng Lexuan
U-14 Girls Presbyterian High Roster
Adeline Sim, Jacinta Tan, Jazlyn Tan, Ng Kai Lin, Leong Kai Xin, Giogel Wee, Chaela Dolendo, Regine Tan, Persis Ong, Natalie Koh, Tammy Seng, Beverly Tong
More photos next page
Leave A Comment