Apac Inti, Yuso win inter-club championships

SEMARANG (JP): Apac Inti men's volleyball club of Central Java and Yuso women's team from Yogyakarta won the National Inter-club Championships at the Jatidiri sports hall here on Friday evening.

Apac Inti crushed the Bank BTPN team of West Java 3-2 (20-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-10) while Yuso defeated Alco Sekar Telkom of West Java 3-2 (20-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-19, 15-12).

All of the event's finalists are promoted to the main division and will perform in the 2002 national volleyball league (Livoli).

In the men's division, BPN club finished third after overcoming Kembar Grup 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 22-17) in an East Java derby.

Apac Inti and Yuso each pocketed Rp 3 million (US$270) in prize money and a trophy, while Bank BTPN and Alko Sekar Telkom of West Java earned Rp 2 million each and a trophy. BPN club and Sphinx women's club of Bojonegoro, East Java, bagged Rp 1.5 million each, while the Kembar Grup of Gresik, East Java and Tugu Muda of Central Java took home Rp 1 million.

Apac Inti got off to a shaky start, losing the first two sets. Cheered on by the home crowd, Apac Inti finally overwhelmed BTPN to take the championship in the fifth set.

Apac Inti team manager Didik Taufik said he was touched by the victory, which brought the home favorites to the national league after being relegated for a long time.

"Our players perform very well. They really work hard and give a good fight," he said, adding that he had provided an Rp 8 million cash bonus for the victory. (har/ivy)