Jakarta Monas keeps up its winning streak

Jakarta Monas keeps up its winning streak

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Men's team Jakarta Monas Bank DKI handled the pressure points
against Surabaya Samator on Saturday to maintain its perfect
match record and stay atop the standings in the Sampoerna Hijau
Proliga Volley Ball Championship.

Jakarta Monas Bank DKI finally got the upper hand 3-2 (23-25,
26-24, 17-25, 25-18, 15-12) at Senayan, Central Jakarta, the
third stop in the league series.

Surabaya Samator's Kenton Lepp showed early signs that he
would dominate with his jumping spikes, but Jakarta Monas players
were able to blunt his power with double blocks in the crucial
second, fourth and fifth games.

Tied at 2-2, the teams stayed even in the final game until 8-
8, when Jakarta took two points in succession by blocking spikes
from Surabaya Samator's Aris A Risqon.

From then on, it was routine for Jakarta Monas as it closed
out its fourth straight victory.

Jakarta Monas Bank DKI trainer Dadang Sudrajat acknowledged
that Lepp was a formidable opponent, but said his players were
undaunted even after trailing losing the third game.

"Our players followed the instructions of their coach to win
the match," he said.

Jakarta Monas Bank DKI captain Erwin Rusni said his teammates
were not at the top of their game because they felt the pressure
to notch another win.

"But at critical times, we played our best and we won today."

Surabaya Samator's captain Aris put the loss down to careless
play in the final game and poor returns of serve. Falling behind
8-10 was the turning point, he added.

"It was the critical point because our service returns were
poor, and our spikes were easily blocked by our opponents."

Also on Saturday, women's team Gresik Phonska Bank Jatim
defeated Yogya Tomkins 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22) in a contest of
two struggling sides.

With a 2-2 win-loss record, Gresik Phonska moved from bottom
of the six-team standings to fourth, with Yogya Tompkins dropping
to its unenviable position in sixth with its 1-3 tally.

Jakarta 46 BNI leads the standings with an unblemished 4-0
count.