15 clubs set for Livoli event

JAKARTA: Fifteen first division clubs will compete in the Rp 100 million 2005 Livoli Sampoerna Hijau volleyball competition when it makes a long-awaited stop in the capital beginning on Thursday.

"The city government's intention is not only to put on a first division team competition, but also to provide entertainment for the volleyball fans," Indonesian Volleyball Association chairman Firman Gani said on Tuesday of the annual event, which was previously held in cities in Sumatra, West and East Java.

The eight men's teams are defending champion Yuso Gunadarma (Yogyakarta), BP2K (Jakarta), Bandung Tectona (West Java), Military Headquarters (Jakarta), Jasa Marga (Jakarta), Apacinti (Semarang), Indomaret Sidoarjo (East Java) and Bank Sumsel (South Sumatra), Antara news service reported.

The seven women's teams are titleholder Bandung Tectona, Yuso Gunadarma (Yogyakarta), Military Headquarters (Jakarta), PLN (Jakarta), Popsivo (Jakarta), Petrogres Junior (Jakarta) and Perkasa Blitar (East Java). Jasa Marga withdrew from the women's competition without providing a reason.

The competition at Senayan Basketball Hall, Central Jakarta, will consist of a round-robin format. The winning teams at the end of the six-day competition each receive Rp 20 million (US$2,000), with the runners-up entitled to Rp 15 million. -- JP