Thailand retains ASEAN junior volleyball title
Thailand retains ASEAN junior volleyball title
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thailand confirmed its status as the strongest volleyball talent
maker in Southeast Asia by retaining the ASEAN Men's Junior
Volleyball Championship here on Thursday.
The Thai youths kept their unbeaten run intact en route to the
championship trophy, beating host Indonesia 25-16, 25-22, 22-25,
25-15 on the final day of the tournament.
Thursday's match was a formality for Thailand, which secured
the coveted trophy after Indonesia lost to Vietnam on Wednesday.
The host team finished third behind Vietnam following the
second straight defeat. Vietnam ouplayed Singapore 25-13, 25-8,
25-12 in the other match on the day.
As soon as the match was over the organizing committee offered
a morale-lifting consolation to the home fans and the officials
of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) with the
announcer saying through a a loud speaker about Indonesian senior
team's turn-around result in its tour of Fukuoka, Japan.
"Indonesia beat Thailand 3-1 today (Thursday) in the Asia-
Pacific championship in Fukuoka. Yesterday they beat Vietnam 3-
0," the announcer said to the spectators' cheers.
Thai team manager Nateetong Sutham attributed his boys'
success to a serious and lengthy grooming period, which started
as early as when they were aged between 12 and 15 years old.
"They have been working hard. I thank them for what they have
shown in the tournament," he said while savoring the victory with
squad members in the center of the court after the match.
Thailand was apparently unchallenged against Indonesia.
After winning the opening two sets, coach Panurawan Sopol
experimented in the third set with most of his perennial
substitutes given their chance of playing full time.
They lost 22-25 before turning back to the starting line-up to
hold off Indonesia's mounting attack.
The Indonesians looked to have run out of steam, taking only
15 points in the fourth set.
But it was the game against Vietnam that coach Syamsul Jais
rued much.
"Everyone knows Thailand is stronger. We are no match for
them. There was nothing wrong with our tactics. It worked as
planned. It was just because the opponent was better than us," he
said.
"But against Vietnam, we should have won," he added.
Despite the mediocre performance at the tournament, Syamsul
was hopeful that his proteges would be able to go up further in
the next three years.
Thailand now looks ahead to a higher level when it competes in
the Asian Junior Championship in Tehran next August, where
Indonesia looks certain to cancel its participation.
Sutham hinted they would be seeking a fifth place in the event
when he said: "At the Asian level we have the top four over us...
China, (South) Korea, Japan and Iran."
Meanwhile, PBVSI chairwoman Rita Subowo said that given the
poor result at the ASEAN level, the Indonesian juniors would not
go to Tehran.
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thailand confirmed its status as the strongest volleyball talent
maker in Southeast Asia by retaining the ASEAN Men's Junior
Volleyball Championship here on Thursday.
The Thai youths kept their unbeaten run intact en route to the
championship trophy, beating host Indonesia 25-16, 25-22, 22-25,
25-15 on the final day of the tournament.
Thursday's match was a formality for Thailand, which secured
the coveted trophy after Indonesia lost to Vietnam on Wednesday.
The host team finished third behind Vietnam following the
second straight defeat. Vietnam ouplayed Singapore 25-13, 25-8,
25-12 in the other match on the day.
As soon as the match was over the organizing committee offered
a morale-lifting consolation to the home fans and the officials
of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) with the
announcer saying through a a loud speaker about Indonesian senior
team's turn-around result in its tour of Fukuoka, Japan.
"Indonesia beat Thailand 3-1 today (Thursday) in the Asia-
Pacific championship in Fukuoka. Yesterday they beat Vietnam 3-
0," the announcer said to the spectators' cheers.
Thai team manager Nateetong Sutham attributed his boys'
success to a serious and lengthy grooming period, which started
as early as when they were aged between 12 and 15 years old.
"They have been working hard. I thank them for what they have
shown in the tournament," he said while savoring the victory with
squad members in the center of the court after the match.
Thailand was apparently unchallenged against Indonesia.
After winning the opening two sets, coach Panurawan Sopol
experimented in the third set with most of his perennial
substitutes given their chance of playing full time.
They lost 22-25 before turning back to the starting line-up to
hold off Indonesia's mounting attack.
The Indonesians looked to have run out of steam, taking only
15 points in the fourth set.
But it was the game against Vietnam that coach Syamsul Jais
rued much.
"Everyone knows Thailand is stronger. We are no match for
them. There was nothing wrong with our tactics. It worked as
planned. It was just because the opponent was better than us," he
said.
"But against Vietnam, we should have won," he added.
Despite the mediocre performance at the tournament, Syamsul
was hopeful that his proteges would be able to go up further in
the next three years.
Thailand now looks ahead to a higher level when it competes in
the Asian Junior Championship in Tehran next August, where
Indonesia looks certain to cancel its participation.
Sutham hinted they would be seeking a fifth place in the event
when he said: "At the Asian level we have the top four over us...
China, (South) Korea, Japan and Iran."
Meanwhile, PBVSI chairwoman Rita Subowo said that given the
poor result at the ASEAN level, the Indonesian juniors would not
go to Tehran.