Jakarta Monas keeps up its winning streak<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Men's team Jakarta Monas Bank DKI handled the pressure points
\nagainst Surabaya Samator on Saturday to maintain its perfect
\nmatch record and stay atop the standings in the Sampoerna Hijau
\nProliga Volley Ball Championship.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Monas Bank DKI finally got the upper hand 3-2 (23-25,
\n26-24, 17-25, 25-18, 15-12) at Senayan, Central Jakarta, the
\nthird stop in the league series.<\/p>\n
Surabaya Samator's Kenton Lepp showed early signs that he
\nwould dominate with his jumping spikes, but Jakarta Monas players
\nwere able to blunt his power with double blocks in the crucial
\nsecond, fourth and fifth games.<\/p>\n
Tied at 2-2, the teams stayed even in the final game until 8-
\n8, when Jakarta took two points in succession by blocking spikes
\nfrom Surabaya Samator's Aris A Risqon.<\/p>\n
From then on, it was routine for Jakarta Monas as it closed
\nout its fourth straight victory.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Monas Bank DKI trainer Dadang Sudrajat acknowledged
\nthat Lepp was a formidable opponent, but said his players were
\nundaunted even after trailing losing the third game.<\/p>\n
"Our players followed the instructions of their coach to win
\nthe match," he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Monas Bank DKI captain Erwin Rusni said his teammates
\nwere not at the top of their game because they felt the pressure
\nto notch another win.<\/p>\n
"But at critical times, we played our best and we won today."<\/p>\n
Surabaya Samator's captain Aris put the loss down to careless
\nplay in the final game and poor returns of serve. Falling behind
\n8-10 was the turning point, he added.<\/p>\n
"It was the critical point because our service returns were
\npoor, and our spikes were easily blocked by our opponents."<\/p>\n
Also on Saturday, women's team Gresik Phonska Bank Jatim
\ndefeated Yogya Tomkins 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22) in a contest of
\ntwo struggling sides.<\/p>\n
With a 2-2 win-loss record, Gresik Phonska moved from bottom
\nof the six-team standings to fourth, with Yogya Tompkins dropping
\nto its unenviable position in sixth with its 1-3 tally.<\/p>\n
Jakarta 46 BNI leads the standings with an unblemished 4-0
\ncount.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-monas-keeps-up-its-winning-streak-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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