Indonesia takes 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The men's volleyball team has cleared its first hurdle, winning 3-0 over Chinese Taipei in Thursday's opening match of the U-185 World Volleyball Championship at the Senayan Indoor Stadium.

Senior player Robby Meliala, who usually plays for the Jakarta Phinisi volleyball club in the national league, led the team in overwhelming their opponents with continuous solid spikes.

Supported by hundreds of home fans chanting and cheering them on, the Indonesian team took the lead from the outset through a very close competition.

Helped by powerful spikes from Robby and Andri Eko, the Indonesian team finished the first set 25-21 in less than 30 minutes.

Feeling confident over its first-set victory, the team continued to give the Taipei players a difficult time with cross- court spikes from the left, mostly delivered by Aries Arizqon.

Taipei blockers Ho Cheng Hsun and Huang Sheng Feng were unable to stop the attacks from the Indonesian team, and the guest team changed its strategy into dropping the ball softly at the net, rather than sending hard spikes.

The change in tactics did not benefit Taipei much, as Indonesia wrapped up the second set 25-12 with relative ease.

Shocked by their first two defeats, Chinese Taipei coach Chang Mu San sent in ace spiker Lien Chien Chih, hoping to steal the third set.

The strategy proved apt, and Taipei took the lead in the third set, scoring 12-9 and maintaining their lead halfway through the set. Meanwhile, the Indonesian men seemed to have lost their focus, making a number of unforced errors.

Struggling to win the third set, the Indonesian team, aided by Johan Rahmadi of the Surabaya Flame and Dwi Suharyono of the Jakarta Monas clubs, equalized at 13-13.

The remainder of the set progressed slowly and tensely, with both teams scoring alternately.

After a 40-minute neck-and-neck battle, Indonesia closed at 25-21, emerging the victor of the match.

However, the victory did not please team manager Yunyun Yudiana, who said the team's performance in the opening set was not as strong as he had expected.

"Our defense was too weak and our players were too eager to play, so they didn't concentrate during the set," Yunyun said. He added most of the players were overconfident after winning the first two sets, and thereby almost lost the third set.

Captain Erwin Rusni concurred, saying his team had not given its best, but was glad the team won 3-0 over Chinese Taipei.

"The next match against Russia will be harder than this," Erwin said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei captain Lee Cheng Man was very disappointed with the result of the match.

"We had a chance to win this match, especially in winning the first set, but it was difficult, as most of the players were nervous because it was the opening set," Lee said.

Coach Chang said he would prepare his team better for their next match against Myanmar, by carefully observing Myanmar's strategy.