Johor Bahru hold off St Hilda’s in thrilling volleyball invitational semi-final

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by REDintern Chua Yueda

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Monday, May 31, 2010 — In a thrilling semi-final encounter, the Volleyball Association of Johor Bahru (VAJB) edged out St Hilda’s Secondary 3-2 (22-25, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19, 15-6) to qualify for the final of the Volleyball Association of Singapore’s Volleyball Invitational Championships.

Despite being the underdogs, St Hilda’s put up an incredible fight in this match as they took both the first and third sets. However they fell in the remaining two sets to miss out on the final.

VAJB started well with Chua Kuang Hua’s (#7) spike earning the first point of the match. They took a 3-0 lead before Ng Aik Wei’s (#10) serve error gifted St Hilda’s their first point. At the end of the first technical timeout, VAJB held a slender one-point lead.

St Hilda’s went on a scoring streak thereafter as they landed five straight points to take a 12-8 lead. Captain Benjamin Choo (#7) and Vincent Oo (#9) impressed as they scored the majority of the points for St Hilda’s. VAJB tried their best to whittle down their lead thereafter and managed to draw level on 16-all.

Both sides took turns to take the lead before St Hilda’s surged ahead 24-22 towards the end of the first set. Benjamin Choo’s (#7) crucial block on a VAJB spike earned the crucial last point that ensured they took the set 25-22.

VAJB seemed eager to prove their mettle as they started the second set well and held a five-point lead over St Hilda’s at the first technical timeout.

St Hilda’s had no answer to VAJB’s skillful spikes and fakes that came relentlessly and trailed by eight points at the second technical timeout. They tried to hit back but VAJB successfully blocked many of their attacks on the line.

Lo Sea Wah scored the last crucial point for VAJB when he touched the ball over the line which ensured they took the second set 25-13.

VAJB started the third set with a 2-0 lead before St Hilda’s scored four points straight to pull 4-2 ahead. By the first technical timeout, they held a two-point lead.

VAJB managed to draw level on 9-all before St Hilda’s went on another 4-0 scoring run again to lead 13-9 which lead to the VAJB coach calling a timeout.

That set the tone for St Hilda’s as they did not relinquish their lead thereafter with captain Benjamin Choo’s fierce spike clinching them the third set 25-21.

VAJB once again refused to back down as they started the fourth set making several attacks on St Hilda’s. That strategy worked as they took a five-point lead going into the first technical timeout.

They went further behind at 11-21 which caused concern for the St Hilda’s coach who decided to call a timeout to address his team’s problems. That seemed to work as they showed great character to cut the deficit to 19-24, but VAJB’s Ng Hong Ping (#3) broke their hearts by scoring the last crucial point for VAJB.

In the game-deciding fifth set, St Hilda’s managed to take a 2-1 lead initially before VAJB landed six point straight to lead 7-2. St Hilda’s reduced the deficit to 6-8 but VAJB proved too strong in the closing stages as they scored another seven points straight which sealed the set at 15-6 and their spot in the final.

VAJB will next take on Temasek Polytechnic in the final scheduled on Wednesday, June 2nd at 11.30am while St Hilda’s take on Nanyang JC on Tuesday, June 1st at 6pm to fight it out for third place.

Final Score
VAJB 3 St Hilda’s 2
22-25, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19, 15-6

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

St Hilda’s lineup
Andy Ong Ming Yi (#1), Jordon Toh Yue Xuan (#2), Kevin Chua Keng Wee (#3), Malcom Tay Ying Liang (#4), Abel Ang Hao Wen (#5), Matthaeus Ang Teck Ming (#6), Choo Wei Jie Benjamin (Captain, #7), Tan Zheng Han (Libero, #8), Oo Boon Chuan Vincent (#9), Ong Hong Yuan (#10), Sng Seng Whye (#11), Derek Chew Yong Cheng (#12)

Invitational Fixtures (Men’s)
Day 5 Tuesday (1/6)
Match 9 10:00 – 12:30 Men’s 5th & 6th
Punggol Secondary vs. Hwa Chong Institution

Match 10 18:00 – 20:30 Men’s Bronze
St Hilda’s Secondary vs. Nanyang JC

Day 6 Wednesday (2/6)
Match 11 11:30 – 14:00 Men’s Final
Volleyball Association of Johor Bahru vs. Temasek Polytechnic