Jakarta too powerful in Volleyball Championships

Jakarta too powerful in Volleyball Championships

JAKARTA (JP): Host team Jakarta proved too powerful for its
counterparts from other provinces on the third day of the 2001
Interchapter National Volleyball Championships at Bung Karno
Sports Complex basketball hall in Senayan.

The Jakarta women's team maintained its top position in the
pool Y standings after defeating Central Java 3-0 (25-14, 25-16,
25-11) on Wednesday.

Another favorite, East Java, trailed close behind in second
place after continuing its second consecutive win, defeating
Banten 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-11).

In the men's event, Jakarta had no difficulty beating Central
Kalimantan 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-14).

East Kalimantan managed to win the first set but failed to
continue its form, eventually losing to West Java 3-1 (21-25, 25-
20, 25-17, 25-22).

Other matches saw North Sumatra's men's team outclass South
Sumatra 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14) and West Nusa Tenggara suffer
its third consecutive loss, beaten by Banten 3-0 (25-22, 25-22,
25-21).

The men's teams from Central Java, East Java, Jambi and
Yogyakarta were still playing their matches late on Wednesday.

Jakarta coach Sarmili fielded substitute players against
Central Kalimantan, but they were still too strong.

The visitors mostly failed to block Jakarta's spikes and was
not able to answer its rival's variety of shots.

"We intentionally fielded our substitute players against
Central Kalimantan because we know that their players are two
classes below ours.

"Moreover, we want to save our energy for the upcoming matches
against North Sumatra (on Thursday) and East Java (on Friday).
Both teams are also powerful," Sarmili said.

He said that the team's substitute players had abilities equal
to their frontline players.

In Tuesday's late matches, West Nusa Tenggara men's team lost
for the second time, beaten by Yogyakarta 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-
23). East Java men's team also beat North Sumatra 3-0 (25-21, 25-
9, 25-20).

The eight winners and runners-up from two pools in the men's
and women's events will progress to Saturday's quarterfinals. The
final will be held on Sunday.

The men's and women's champions will take home Rp 6 million
each, runners-up Rp 4 million, while third and fourth will earn
Rp 3 million and Rp 2 million respectively. Top male and female
players will bag an extra Rp 1 million each.

As of Wednesday, few spectators had been attending the event,
staged for the first time in seven years. Tickets to the
preliminary matches are being sold at a price of Rp 10,000, while
finals tickets will cost Rp 20,000. (ivy)