Story by Tessa Cho/Red Sports. Photos by Soh Jun Wei/Red Sports

Javier Poon (SIN #3) spikes the ball while 3 Cambodian players are attempting a block. (Photo 1 © Soh Jun Wei/Red Sports)

Javier Poon (SIN #3) spikes the ball while 3 Cambodian players attempt a block. (Photo 1 © Soh Jun Wei/Red Sports)

OCBC Arena Hall 2, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 — Singapore were defeated 3-0 by Cambodia in their first match of the men’s volleyball event at the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

It was their first appearance at the SEA Games since 1993, when Singapore last hosted the Games, and also their first international competition.

Singapore trailed Cambodia throughout the first set, with 8 points being the largest point difference in the match. Despite attempts to close up the scoreline, Singapore’s efforts proved futile as the set went to Cambodia 25-19.

The second set saw Singapore tighten their game plan to come back stronger as they kept the scoreline tight up to 9-9, where they had their first breakthrough over the Cambodians with a successful block in by Javier Poon (#3) and Daryl Lee (#13). However, it was not long before the Cambodians came back to equalise the score at 15-15. Nonetheless, a service fault by the Cambodians put the Singaporeans back in the lead. But the set was not to be Singapore’s, as the Cambodians eventually caught up at 22-22 to close out the set at 25-23.

They eventually lost the third set 16-25 to finish the game without a single set win.

Said captain Javier Pooon (#3) about the team’s performance, “I feel that this wasn’t our best performance. Maybe it was due to the pressure and expectations of the crowd, although it is not an excuse for us to not play up to our standard. Moving forward, however, we have two more matches to go (in this round robin). We will definitely want to try our best even though our opponents are stronger than Cambodia, because Indonesia and Vietnam were seeded in the last SEA Games. But we will definitely put up a good fight against them.”

The men’s team will play Indonesia on Friday, June 12, at 7pm.

Score by Set
SIN vs CAM
1st Set: 19-25
2nd Set: 23-25
3rd Set: 16-25

Best Scorer
Singapore
Tay Zi Hao Kingsley (#2) – 16 points

Cambodia
Mon Dara (#6) – 24 points

Singapore Roster
Tay Zi Hao Kingsley (#2), Poon Long Javier (#3), Goh Ker Han Ronald (#4), Choo Wei Jie Benjamin (#7), Wong Wei Zhi (#8), Toh Yue Xuan Jordan (#9), Lim Jie Liang (#12), Lee Daryl Yi Rong (#13), Eng Sin Hau (#14), Lai Wen Chuan Edward (#16), Lim Xuan Zheng (#19), Goh Teng Kuan Melvin (#20)

Cambodia Roster
Lou Piseth (#1), Chamroeun Samnung (#2), Mon Rom (#3), Kol Chan Tha (#4), Meas Vesna (#5), Mon Dara (#6), Ath Vutha (#7), Hang Pisey (#9), Poch Chanthol(#10), Khoeun Phearin (#11), Seng Sok Veasna (#12), MAk Rado (#18)

2015 SEA Games Volleyball – fixtures and results

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