By Tay Jun Wen/Red Sports
Tan Kiat Hwe (Xinmin #13) looking to send a strong spike past Aloysius Keh (Punggol #1) and Melric Chew (Punggol #7). (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
Presbyterian High School, Wednesday, April 3, 2013 — Punggol Seconary defeated Xinmin Secondary 3–1 in the semi-final of the National B Division Boys Volleyball Championship. It was a tight game between two equally matched teams.
The first set started with an early tie at 4–4. Two points were made by Punggol, but Xinmin unleashed a four-point streak to lead 8–6. Still lagging by two points at 10–8, Punggol managed to break ahead and have their own four-point run to lead 12–10.
The teams then tied at 12–12. Strong spiking came from Xinmin’s captain, Leung Lok Heng (#18) and his teammate Tan Kiat Hwe (#13). Yet, Punggol resisted Xinmin’s attacks and both teams tied all the way till 22–22. However, a final three straight points from Punggol sealed the first set at 25–22.
Though having lost the first set, Xinmin were not letting up just yet. Tied at 10–10 in the second set, Xinmin took the lead with two more points. The two-point lead was kept till 13–11. Punggol scored one but Xinmin returned with three to continue leading 16–12. Still with the same lead at 19–15, Xinmin went on an incredible five-point streak, a point away from winning the second set. After returning a point from Punggol, Xinmin won the second set by a comfortable margin, 25–16.
“Both of our teams fought hard today,” commented Punggol’s captain, Nigel Keh (#3).
However, Xinmin lost their momentum in the third set. Punggol was down 0–1, but they eventually took an early lead by proceeding with a merciless seven-point run. Xinmin tried to reduce the huge gap but it was to no avail. Punggol maintained a six-point lead at 21–15 until they scored two more points to up their lead to eight (23–15). Xinmin only managed to score a point more, before Punggol scored another two to take the third set at 25–16.
A dramatic fourth set was what ended the season for Xinmin. The game was tied 4–4 before Punggol established a two-point (6–4) lead. Throughout the entire fourth set, Xinmin tried hard to reduce the deficit but were deterred by Punggol’s Aloysius Keh (#1) and Muhammad Haiqal Bin Mohamed A (#10) who continually delivered excellent spikes.
Punggol managed to pull away to create a five-point buffer and led 14–9. Xinmin came close when they had a four-point streak to reach 14–13 but Punggol quickly pulled ahead, leaving Xinmin struggling to match their points. As such, Punggol managed to keep the lead till 21–17.
Xinmin then won three unanswered points to trail Punggol by only one point (21–20). Trading points, Punggol still led 23–22. In the nail-biting moments of the final set, Xinmin managed to equalise at 23–23. Alas, Punggol scored a point more and an out-ball by Xinmin cost them their last and final set of the season, 25–23.
Nigel (#3) said: “It was a close fight and we played our best. We still have to improve on our defence and movement speeds.”
The Punggol captain also mentioned that he was proud of his team’s performance. With regards to facing St. Hilda’s Secondary in the final, Nigel said that he does not think that it will be an easy game.
“We have a 50-50 chance of winning,” commented Nigel.
The final between St. Hilda’s and Punggol will take place this Friday, April 5, at Toa Payoh Sports Hall at 1:45 p.m.
Score by Sets
Xinmin Secondary vs Punggol Secondary
1st Set: 22–25
2nd Set: 25–16
3rd Set: 16–25
4th Set: 23–25
Xinmin Secondary Roster
Toe De Xuan (#1), Ong Zong Kai (#2), Sim Wei Jie Edrick (#3), Nicholas Ng Yan Chang (#6), Stanwin Khoo Jin Leon (#7), Melvin Ng Cheng Wei (#8), Goh Yi Zheng (#9), Mohamed Rusydi B Haron (#10), Tan Jia Qing Darius (#11), Eugene Tan Wee Chin (#12), Tan Kiat Hwe (#13), Jonathan Tan Zhong Neng (#15), Sim Song He (#17), Leung Lok Heng (#18)
Punggol Secondary Roster
Aloysius Keh Chen Han (#1), Nigel Keh Chen Hao (#3), Ngiam Yee Zhi (#5), Lee Wen Jun (#6), Chew Zhijie Melric (#7), Sebastian Yin Jia Jun (#8), Yeo Jie Feng (#9), Muhammad Haiqal Bin Mohamed A (#10), Loh Wei Hsuan (#11), Qin Tian (#12), Lloyd Goh Qi Xuan (#15), Chan Kei Jeral (#16), Goh Koon Tat (#17), Woo Ying Kang (#18)
2013 National B Division Boys’ Volleyball Championship – fixtures and results
More photos next page
Leave A Comment