Alco Telkom women's team to be promoted to main division

SEMARANG (JP): Women's volleyball team Alco Sekar Telkom of West Java earned a promotion to the main division for the 2002 national volleyball league (Livoli) by making it to the grand final of the national interclub championships on Wednesday.

Alco booked its third successive victory on Wednesday, defeating home team Tugu Muda 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-19) at the Jatidiri sports hall here. Earlier, Alco posted 3-0 wins over the strong Yuso of Yogyakarta and Sphinx of Bojonegoro, East Java.

The three wins secured the group championship for Alco, which has one more match against Semarang's Garuda. The result of this match will not affect the team's promotion.

Yuso and Sphinx will fight it out for the other ticket to the main division of Livoli. Alco will play one of these teams in the grand final to determine the winner of the interclub championships, which is being contested by five women's team, according to Antara.

Yuso and PTP IX of Jakarta were relegated during the 2001 Livoli.

On the men's side of the interclub championships, 11 teams, divided into two groups, are fighting to earn a promotion to the main division of Livoli. The champions and runners-up of the two groups will meet in the semifinals to decide who will move on to the grand final. The two teams that reach the finals will be promoted.

Apac Inti cruised into the semifinals by outplaying Kembar Grup of Gresik, East Java, 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-22) in a Group A match on Wednesday. Apac Inti is undefeated in four matches.

Kembar Grup also qualified for the semifinals by winning three of four matches to finish as the Group A runner-up.

In Group B, BPN of East Java also went through to the semifinals with three wins and one loss.

The Bank BTPN club of West Java will meet Ganefo of Yogyakarta on Wednesday evening, with the final semifinal berth at stake. Host Jasa Marga Semarang and Jasa Marga Jakarta are out of contention. (har/ivy)