Shuqun overcome Yishun Town 2-0 to enter U-13 boys volleyball final

Story by Lai Jun Wei. Photos by Ng Cheng Cong and Lai Jun Wei.

Hougang Sports Hall, Saturday, 29 November, 2008 – Shuqun Secondary beat Yishun Town Secondary 2-0 (27-25, 25-17) in a semi-final of the 2008 National U-13 Boys Junior Volleyball Championship.

Shuqun showed excellent form in the first set to jump out to a lead but it was only for a brief moment as Yishun Town caught up to tie at 11-11. Both teams rallied on, continuing to tie till 15-15.

Yishun Town broke the stalemate as they leapt forward to lead at 20-17. Shuqun were not going to go down that easily, as they fought hard to catch up. Raishan Ali (Shuqun, #1) executed a drop shot from the opposite corner to eventually tie with Yishun Town at the critical 23-23 point mark.

Yishun Town took the next point, but Shuqun replied with another drop shot to deuce at 24-24.

Brandon (Yishun Town, #7) spiked a shot from the outside, but saw it find the net instead to give Shuqun an advantage. But he made no mistake the second time as Chan Yan Wen’s (Shuqun, #7) serve was picked up and organised for Yishun Town #7 to spike from the centre. His ball found no takers and the score was once again tied at 25-25.

Raishan Ali (Shuqun, #1) subsequently brought his team to the set point with a spike towards the Yishun Town libero that saw the latter unable to receive.

All eyes were on Raishan Ali (Shuqun, #1) as he had the final service. The first ball was not well received by Yishun Town, deflecting off the receiving player. It went too far out for any of his team mates to retrieve it and Shuqun took the first set.

Shuqun were eager to take the second set and finish the game quickly. Despite being two points down at the start, they quickly pulled off to a nine point lead at 18-9. Yishun Town continued to fumble to bring Shuqun closer to the win.

Shuqun hit the 20-point mark after a good spike from the centre saw it deflect off the Yishun Town libero and going out of bounds.

At the 23-12 point mark, Shuqun looked set to end the game quickly, but a spike from Shuqun found the net to deny them the set point. To make matters worse, bad ball handling by Shuqun on the next shot saw the ball smacked back by Yishun Town #1 as he guarded the net. Shuqun stumbled again when Raishan Ali’s (Shuqun, #1) ball found the net.

Yishun Town were soon catching up at 23-16 after a ball was hit out by Raishan Ali (Shuqun, #1). But he brought his team to game point when he spiked straight down from the centre which saw no takers. The ball clipped the line and the point was awarded to Shuqun.

Yishun Town #1 set a double on the next rally and Shuqun were gifted the last point, and the win.

Final score: 2-0 (27-25, 25-17)

Shuqun will face off with Anderson Secondary tomorrow, 30 November at Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall after the Boys’ 3/4th match.

Yishun Town will compete with Xinmin for third place in the 3/4th placing match right after the girls’ matches.

Good luck!

Editor’s note: If you recognise yourself or your team mates in any of the photos, please feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update the captions accordingly. Thanks!