Johor Bahru defeat Punggol Secondary in volleyball invitational

By Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Sunday, May 30, 2010 — The Volleyball Association of Johor Bahru (VAJB) team defeated Punggol Secondary School 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 28-26) to top Group A in the preliminaries of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships.

VAJB were the favourites in this match and they flexed their muscles right from the start. Chua Kuang Hua (VAJB #7) took the first point for the team with a thunderous spike from the outside. They stormed to an early lead, forcing Punggol to call for a time out at the 14-9 mark. Despite Punggol trying to make a comeback, they could not catch up, and conceded the set to VAJB 25-16.

Punggol took the first point of the second set after Melson Chew (Punggol #17) saw his spike deflected into an empty spot in VAJB’s court. Tan Jian Yue (VAJB #16) subsequently responded promptly with a quick ball to level the score. Like the first set, VAJB quickly asserted their authority, blitzing to a 14-5 lead before Punggol called for a timeout.

Punggol’s attacks were lacking in power as compared to VAJB’s. They also found trouble breaking the VAJB wall, as they saw spike after spike being stuffed out by their opponents. However, Punggol continued on the fight, and raked in points whenever possible. VAJB quickly took down the set 25-12.

It was a different game in the third set as the match became more intense as the score line suggests. By the first technical timeout, VAJB only had a one-point lead over Punggol. Punggol kept the match close, and were scoring points with unorthodox play, catching VAJB off guard several times.

VAJB however soon shrugged off Punggol to lead 16-10 by the second technical timeout. It seemed like VAJB would charge forward to seal the set, but a sudden change in fate saw Punggol draw level at 16-16, before turning the tables on VAJB to command a five-point lead at 22-17.

Punggol looked set to steal the set from VAJB, but Kingsley Tay (Punggol #1) served into the net for VAJB to close the score gap. VAJB quickly drew in, and were within one point of Punggol after a VAJB spike deflected off the Punggol block into an empty spot. Punggol were being kept at bay, and they were keen to take set point. However, VAJB nullified the score difference when Kingsley Tay (Punggol #1) returned Teo Wei Shen’s (VAJB #12) serve into the net, much to the jeers by the crowd.

Off a free ball by Sean Tan (Punggol #15), VAJB went for a quick ball, and took match point. VAJB were denied match point after Chee Yong Chiang’s (VAJB #1) spike could not cross the net. As Ng Aik Wei (VAJB #8) went up for a fake, Yong Chiang (VAJB #1) followed behind and spiked down hard into Punggol’s court. Punggol however, quickly saved the match point to continue the battle.

One more match point was saved for the score to stand at 26-26. Kuang Hua (VAJB #7) forced a touch out from the Punggol blocker to bring the team to match point. This time, VAJB silenced all opposition when Foong Yung Chieh (VAJB #18) spiked down into Punggol’s court from the opposite corner, putting an end to an exciting third set.

Final Score
VAJB 3 Punggol 0
25-16, 25-12, 28-26

Volleyball Association of Johor Bahru
#1 Chee Yong Chiang (Captain), #2 Lau Wee Sen, #3 Ng Hong Ping, #4 Lee Long Yeh (Libero), #5 Ng Peng Long, #6 Hoe Ban Seng, #7 Chua Kuang Hua, #8 Lo Sea Wah, #9 Lee Teck Peir, #10 Ng Aik Wei, #11 Pee Kok Yaw (Libero), #12 Teo Wei Shen, #16 Tan Jian Yue, #17 Lee Qi Hao, #18 Foong Yung Chien

Punggol Secondary
#1 Tay Zhi Hao Kingsley, #3 Bryan Chua Kun Han, #6 Koh Wei Xian, #7 Yan Kian Jun, #8 Augustine Goh Wee Jian, #9 Anders Cheong Jia Ying, #10 Andy Sim Jian Rong, #11 Wong Jia Wei Esmond (Libero), #12 Justin Tan Hao Yang, #15 Sean Tan Wei Xuan, #16 Filicks Wong De Shen, #17 Melson Chew Wei Jie

Invitational Fixtures (Men’s)
Day 4 Monday (31/5) NB: Timing is subjected to change
Match 7 15:30 – 18:00 Men’s Semi-Final 1
A 1st vs. B 2nd

Match 8 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Semi-Final 2
B 1st vs. A 2nd

Day 5 Tuesday (1/6)
Match 9 10:00 – 12:30 Men’s 5th & 6th A 3rd vs. B 3rd

Match 10 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Bronze
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2

Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 11:30 – 14:00 Men’s Final
Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2

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