MEN Group A: Malaysia take charge
Malaysia secured top spot in the group with a thrilling win over Indonesia in a noisy encounter at the Palembang Sports and Convention Center!
MALAYSIA 15-4, 15-7, 15-5 JAPAN
JAPAN 15-6, 15-10, 16-14 USA
INDONESIA 9-15, 12-15, 15-11, 10-15 MALAYSIA
The Malaysians were very much the team of the day, defeating Bangkok semi-finalists Japan comprehensively to start proceedings off and then overcoming a partisan crowd to beat the hosts, who currently stand second in the ISTAF Super Series rankings.
Things really got interesting in the third set of that match after Malaysia had taken a 2-0 lead. Indonesia substituted Victoria for Sa Abrian, a feisty tekong who celebrated every point right up at the net, staring down his opponents. Indonesia took the third set after his Malaysian counterpart faulted on two services in a row, but Mohamad Fadzli literally rose to the occasion in the fourth, spiking everything in sight to help his country record a famous victory over their local rivals. Malaysia will now face Korea or Singapore in the semis, while Indonesia will have to take on the mighty Thais.
Japan finish third in the group after a win over USA that came in straight sets but was far from straightforward. The Americans, with two newcomers in their group, warmed to their task, with Jack Harris serving with more consistency, Jeremy Mirken setting accurately and "Thai Tony" Ontam absolutely on fire, winning point after point from all parts of the court.
The Americans came so close to what would have been a richly-deserved set but came up just short. They will certainly carry a bunch of confidence over into their seventh-place play-off on Sunday against Singapore or Brunei.
Group A final standings
MALAYSIA Played 3. Points 6. Sets 9-1
INDONESIA Played 3. Points 4. Sets 7-4
JAPAN Played 3. Points 1. Sets 1-9
USA Played 3. Points 0. Sets 0-9
MEN Group B: Brunei upset Singapore
Brunei Darussalam won a see-saw five-set encounter over Singapore which opens the door for Korea to make the semis.
SINGAPORE 13-15, 15-11, 11-15, 15-12, 7-15 BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
KOREA 11-15, 12-15, 12-15 THAILAND
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 15-10, 15-7, 15-9 CHINESE TAIPEI
This result sees Group B wide open, with Saturday's encounter between Singapore and Korea now a virtual quarter-final. Singapore must win and drop no more than a set, whereas Korea could even afford to lose provided that it was in five sets and still make the semi-finals. A Singaporean loss would also see them finish fourth in the group behind Brunei.
And if that is the case, then they would have only themselves to blame. They allowed five aces against a tekong (Nur Alimin) whose service rate was only 50%, and they came up short on the big points. Twice they came back from a set down but the three-man regu, with neither of the substitutes used, ran out of gas in the decider, with Brunei proving to be the fitter team.
The team from Darussalam finished off the day's proceedings with a comfortable victory over Chinese Taipei, garnering another two points which could well see them in Sunday's fifth-place play-off.
Singapore meanwhile will have to pick themselves up and produce something special on Saturday morning against a Korean team which pushed Thailand all the way. Pornchai Kaokaew was again rested for the world champions, but when you have Anuwat Chaichana who can come in and spike 21 of 22, you are not really what can be described as under-strength. Shin struggled mightily with his tekong duties against such a strong team, but the Koreans did what they do best – they defended manfully, and the seven blocks they pulled off got them to within touching distance of the champions. They will certainly start as favourites against Singapore on Saturday.
Thailand meanwhile are assured of top spot and will face Indonesia in the semis. Whoever wins the Korea – Singapore showdown meanwhile will have to take on the resurgent Malaysians – a tall order if ever there was one.
Group B current standings
THAILAND. Played 3. Points 6. Sets 9-0
KOREA. Played 3. Points 4. Sets 6-3
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. Played 4. Points 4. Sets 6-8
SINGAPORE. Played 3. Points 2. Sets 5-6
CHINESE TAIPEI. Played 3. Points 0. Sets 0-9
WOMEN: Indonesia thrill home crowd
Two teams won both their matches on Friday, but while Thailand's victories were par for the course, Indonesia exceeded everyone's expectations and swept all before them.
KOREA 6-15, 14-16, 8-15 THAILAND
INDONESIA 10-15, 15-13, 15-8, 15-9 JAPAN
THAILAND 15-7, 15-9, 15-10 MALAYSIA
INDONESIA 15-12, 12-15, 15-10, 15-12 VIETNAM
With Vietnam having finished second and third respectively at the previous two ISTAF tournaments, they were expected to make reasonably light work of Indonesia, who came into the event ranked tenth in the world. Indeed there were fears that the hosts would also fall to fast-rising Japan who made the semis in Bangkok last September.
The local fans need not have worried. The women in blue outshone both of their opponents on Friday, battling to a pair of hard-fought four-set victories to qualify for the semis as group winners. They rode their starting three of Nur, Rike and Mega and did all the basics – serving, spiking and saving – admirably well. And it certainly helped that they were roared on by a partisan crowd.
Thailand were similarly strong, though Korea pushed them all the way, even leading 14-13 in the second set of their match. The Koreans reward for this valiant defeat is a semi-final berth versus Indonesia, while Vietnam will rue their loss to the hosts as they will now face Thailand, with both of those matches on Saturday afternoon.
Malaysia meanwhile, who also gave an excellent account of themselves against the Thais, will face Japan for fifth place on Sunday in what will be an exciting match between two attractive teams.
by New Sepaktakraw
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