LP Tutong's Md Shukri Jaineh (R) smashed his team to a 2-1 win over Sengkurong D in the quarter-finals of the National Sepak Takraw Regu Tournament at the Multipurpose Hall of the Menglait Sports Complex yesterday. The competition continues tomorrow with the semi-finals in the morning and final in the afternoon. Picture: BT/Syarif Rasani
Sengkurong saw two of their five teams smash their way into the semi-finals of the National Sepak Takraw Regu Tournament yesterday.
Sengkurong E picked up the first spot in the next round after they made quick work of ANP Tutong with a 2-0 (21-7, 21-11) win.
Their second squad to make it through was Sengkurong B, whose players progressed through the sets to finish off Sengkurong A 2-1 (13-21, 17-21, 10-21) at the Multipurpose Hall of the Menglait Sports Complex.
"I knew that some of them would move onto the semi-finals and I am hoping that Sengkurong E will be the ones to lift the trophy," said Sengkurong's team manager Bujang Ali in an interview with The Brunei Times.
"I am very pleased with the players for showing quality performance throughout the tournament.
"Most of our players consist of ex-national and ASEAN school players," added Bujang.
Tournament favorites, LP Tutong proceeded to the semi-finals with a 2-1 (23-21, 15-21, 21-13) win after facing a tough test against Sengkurong D, who received a bye to make it into the quarter-final.
BIPA, who also secured their spot in the last-eight through a bye, edged Sengkurong C 2-0 (21-15, 21-19) to earn their spot in the semi-finals.
LP Tutong are pitted up against Sengkurong B while Sengkurong E will be face BIPA in the semi-finals at 8.30am tomorrow.
The two winning teams will then return to the court at 3pm to battle for the trophy.
LP Tutong progressed into the quarter-finals after a 2-0 (21-9, 21-8) victory over RJ3 A during Wednesday's tournament opener.
The final two qualifying matches in the last-eight saw a nail biting win from Sengkurong E after recording a score of 2-0 (21-15, 25-23) against RJ3 B and Sengkurong A proceed forward after a walkover against Muara Spurs A during the morning session yesterday.
The tournament, organised by Brunei Darussalam Sepak Takraw Association (PESTABARU) with the cooperation of the Department of Youth and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, attracted 14 teams.
Mariam Ulat, the Acting Deputy Director of the Department of Youth and Sports, officiated Wednesday's opening ceremony.
PESTABARU are using the tournament, which is the first of the year, as a way to scout new talent for their national youth squad.
They will also be holding national trials on February 1, 2 and 9 to select a team to take part at the May 24 - June 4 27th Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Perlis, Malaysia, as well as other tournaments to come in 2014.
The national team are still without a coach since the departure of national sepak takraw coach Ittiphol Chomchaissak following his two bronze medals in the hoop and team doubles events at the Dec 11-22 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.
The six-man squad were already guaranteed a medal from the start of their campaign in the hoop event since there were only four teams contesting the category.
Brunei still went on to finish third after scoring 430 points to Singapore's 230.
Their second medal came after they cruised through their Group A games by first taking out Singapore 2-1 before then crushing Cambodia 3-0.
Unfortunately, Indonesia stopped Brunei from advancing to the final by beating them 2-0 in the semi-finals
Ittiphol spent 12 years in charge of the national team, but last month's bronze medals in Myanmar marked the first time in six tries that the country won a medal at the biennial Games.
