Jakarta 46 BNI managers to scale twin peaks for Proliga titles

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta 46 BNI's men's and women's teams served up double delight for their fans by taking top honors at the 2005 Sampoerna Hijau Proliga volleyball tournament in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

Jakarta 46 BNI were impressive in holding their nerve against the formidable attack of Jakarta Monas Bank DKI 3-1 (20-25, 30- 28, 25-20, 25-18), while its women's team also won 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 25-22) over defending champion Jakarta Electric PLN.

Each team received a winner's check for Rp 75 million (US$7,900).

Jakarta 46 BNI got off to a nervous start, allowing Jakarta Monas Bank DKI to dictate the pace in the game.

Brazilian Marcello Barreto and Andri Widiatmoko of Jakarta Monas Bank DKI looked unstoppable from the outset with a series of powerful spikes, supported by teammate Tang Liang's excellent blocking.

The team also started the second game confidently, opening up leads of 16-13 and a 21-17 through spikes from Barreto, Andri and Tang.

But after Brian Alfianto and Dwi Suharyono faulted on serve, gifting two points to Jakarta 46 BNI, the latter began a memorable comeback.

An unreturnable spike from Joao Eduardo de Paula closed the gap to 21-20, before Jakarta Monas Bank DKI again took a 24-22 lead.

However, its players could not close out the game, and points continued to go back and forth.

With the score tied at 28-all, it was a case of experience telling as veteran player Loudry Maspaitella and Robbi Meliala hit the winners to end the marathon game.

With Jakarta Monas Bank DKI seemingly dispirited, Jakarta 46 BNI was in complete control for the rest of the match.

Team captain Loudry, a member of the national squad since 1985, said the pressure of the occasion got to his team in the first game.

"All of us played badly in the first game, but gradually, after we were able to take the lead over them in the second game, they started to look very nervous," he said.

"That was the turning point for us."

Barreto said the second game showed how a contest can turn in a matter of seconds.

"Volleyball is a very fast game. Several of our players lost concentration when we took the lead in the second game, which was enough to turn a good situation into a bad one for us.

"We did our job well, but Jakarta 46 BNI did it better than us."

In the women's final, Jakarta 46 BNI succeeded in stifling the blocks of dangerous Aline Pereira of Brazil and Tien Mei of China.

Jakarta 46 BNI's Dwi Sari, Tatsiana Kavaleuskaya and Sherisa Livingston combined forces to great effect, despite losing the thrilling third game.

Defending champion Surabaya Samator beat Jakarta Electric PLN 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18) for third place in the men's competition, while Bandung Artdeco Bank Jabar's women were third after defeating Jakarta Monas Bank DKI 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21).

Johan R. Budiman of Jakarta 46 BNI and Michelle Collier of Bandung Artdeco Bank Jabar were voted the Most Valuable Players in the men's and women's divisions respectively.