NTB earns opening win in National Championships

JAKARTA (JP): The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) women were the only team from outside Java to win on the opening day of the qualifying round at the Interchapter National Volleyball Championships on Monday.

Jakarta, West Java, East Java and tournament favorite Yogyakarta also earned victories at the basketball hall at the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan.

The qualifying round will end on Friday, followed by the semifinals and finals on the weekend. The men's team matches between North Sumatra and Central Kalimantan and West Nusa Tenggara and East Kalimantan were taking place at press time.

The West Nusa Tenggara women's squad, which includes national beach volleyballers Ni Putu Timi Yudani and Heny Diliana, defeated an outmatched South Sumatra 3-1.

West Nusa Tenggara won the first set 25-19 but South Sumatra bounced back to steal the second set 25-23. West Nusa Tenggara showed its quality by taming their opponent 25-13 in the third set before sealing the victory by taking the final set 25-20.

Former national team member Iman Agus Faisal, who withdrew from the training program for the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games, showed his strength and accuracy in leading the Jakarta men's team to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-13) victory over Central Java.

Coach Sarmili said Jakarta had no difficulties in overcoming their opponent.

"The Central Java players are weaker than us. They performed below their standards, especially when receiving the serve, which they always returned with no power."

The West Java men's team also savored its first victory, defeating Jambi 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-12).

In another match, South Sumatra's men's team fell to East Java 3-1 (27-17, 25-17, 24-26, 25-8).

The Yogyakarta men's team, whose members are from the Yuso club of the Livoli national volleyball league, overpowered Banten 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-21).

In the women's event, Yogyakarta won the first set but was unable to keep the momentum, losing to West Java 3-1 (17-25, 25- 6, 25-18, 25-19).

Twelve men's teams and eight women's teams from 12 provinces are taking part in the event. They are divided into two pools, with the champions and runners-up from each pool advancing to the quarterfinals. (ivy)