Sarawak’s Anderson Chan (left) goes for the kill against Terengganu players in their opening group match of the Sukma volleyball competition yesterday. Sarawak won the match 3-0. — Photo by Othman Ishak
SIBU: Sarawak men’s volleyball team coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win over Terengganu (25-18, 25-21, 27-25) in their opening match held at the Sibu Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park yesterday morning.
Sarawak, powered by Brandon Kiew, Anderson Chan, Teo Siaw Zong and Jackson Ting, breezed through the first two sets.
Coach Philip Teo then reshuffled his boys for the third set when he tried out several young players.
After leading at 12-8, Sarawak players suddenly hit the brick wall and allowed Terengganu players to stage a comeback.
It was point for point but Sarawak, buoyed by home crowd support, eventually snatched the set 27-25.
Asked whether his strategy to reshuffle the players could have been costly, Teo said that was the way it should be.
“Anyway, a win is still a win, no matter how many points,” he added.
Sarawak will take on Penang in their second group match on July 22 at 10am.
Sarawak, ranked No. 2 in the tournament, is in Group B with Terengganu, Penang, Sabah and Johore.
Group A comprises top seed Selangor, 4th seed Pahang, Perak and Wilayah Perseketuan.
For the record, Sarawak men have won the Sukma volleyball title five times out of 12 Sukma while finishing runner-up four times and third twice.
The team last won the Sukma gold in the 2010 Malacca Sukma.
“We knew that we are the hot favourite to win the title and we also knew that expectations ran high for us to win the gold medal for the state. That is why I have told my boys to play to their best abilities and try not to make any silly mistakes,” Teo remarked yesterday.
Earlier in the other Group B match, Penang beat Sabah 3-0. — by Philip Wong