BNI faces Petrogres for volleyball league title
BNI faces Petrogres for volleyball league title
JAKARTA (JP): Underdog Popsivo women's team of Jakarta
destroyed East Java club Petrogres' dream to take the 2000
Indonesian volleyball league title on the second day of the
league's final four on Saturday.
Despite a leg injury, senior volleyballer Engel Bertha Kaize,
who is a beach volleyballer, was able to motivate her team to put
up a tough fight to defeat Petrogres 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 19-25,
25-19, 15-13) at the Senayan basketball hall on Saturday.
Petrogres will have to beat defending champion Bank BNI of
Jakarta 3-0 in the deciding match on Sunday to win the league,
while Bank BNI only needs to win one set to retain the title.
Bank BNI faced no difficulties in ousting Perhutani of Bandung
3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-15). Perhutani will face Popsivo on Sunday.
"We have to be the champion. We have to win one set against
Petrogres to ensure the title. Petrogres players can play
fastball. But based on previous experience, we can tame them,"
said Siti Nurjanah, Bank BNI's team captain.
Petrogres coach Shobirin expressed surprise at his team's
performance.
"I am surprise. The players' performance was not what was
expected. They appeared out of form, and I also noticed that they
were underestimating Popsivo," he said.
On the other hand, Popsivo coach Sarmili said his players
performed without burden.
"We had no mental pressure. We have no national players on our
team. This made Petrogres' players inattentive," he said.
He expressed hope that his players would play just as well on
Sunday to beat Perhutani. "Insya Allah, if we can beat Perhutani,
the way to becoming the league's runner-up is wide open."
Popsivo managed to enter the final four this year. Saturday
was the first opportunity it had to beat Petrogres.
In the men's side, Samator of East Java edged close to the
title after overcoming defending champion Yuso of Yogyakarta 3-0
(25-23, 30-28, 25-18).
Yuso will have to give up its title to either Samator or Bank
BNI which will fight in the deciding match on Sunday. Yuso lost
to Bank BNI 2-3 (19-25, 25-20, 25-16, 27-29, 9-15) late on
Friday.
Bank BNI was still facing Perhutani on Saturday night as of
press time. (ivy)