Flame chalks up third consecutive win

Flame chalks up third consecutive win

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Surabaya Flame extended its winning streak to three after it
defeated Jakarta Patriot 3-0 in Proliga here on Friday.

The Flame did not lose a single set either in its three games,
including the previous two fixtures against Jakarta Phinisi and
Tunas Bogor on the opening days of the competition in Gresik,
East Java.

Although Mark Humphries, its imported player from Australia,
was fielded briefly, the Flame was still too strong for Patriot,
winning 25-21, 25-13, 25-22 at the Bung Karno Indoor Tennis
Stadium in Central Jakarta.

Patriot coach Sulaeman Ahmad conceded that his team was
totally outplayed by its opponents, saying that he had reserve
players who were not fully prepared for such tight competition.

"Neither do we have a player who is able to attack from the
baseline," he told a post-match press conference. Patriot
remained winless after the competition's first three matches.

Despite the victory, Mashudi, his Flame counterpart, said he
was not satisfied with the performance.

"They played below form actually. Luckily Patriot put in a
worse performance," he said.

Humphries was not play during the whole game because of an
ankle injury he sustained during the Gresik round.

However, during the press conference, the 22 year old from
Perth insisted he was fine and felt disappointed that the coach
had not played him out.

"It was bad before, but now I'm fine. I should have retained
my place," he said.

In the women's matches, Patriot also suffered a loss, 20-25,
19-25, 18-25, against Gresik Phonska, and Jakarta Phinisi crushed
Bogor Tunas 25-11, 25-22, 25-12.