Written by: Jireh Tay
Edited by: Cheng Kai Wen
Photos by: Eusoff Works
As the opening match of the IHG season, the Takraw boys were confident and eager to show the rest what they’re made of. For starters, each game has 3 regus, each consisting of 5 sets. The first to win 2 regus would win the game. As the ones who reached the finals but lost to TH last year, the Takraw boys are hungry to win gold this time and will definitely bare their fangs to anything that is in their path.
To start the first regu, Ethan, Umar, Haiqal, and Nauman came up in hopes of giving EH an early advantage. As the star senior, Ethan opened up the match with many solid roll spikes and tips that made KE fumble all over the place. I guess KE didn’t have enough of the season of giving in December last year as they gave up a lot of points to us from their own receives, giving us a huge lead of 12 points in the first set! Haiqal continued with the momentum onto the second set as his serves gave us yet another huge lead against KE. With Umar setting up attacks for Ethan the cannon, KE looked helpless against our overpowering offense in the second set. For the final set of the first regu, Nauman, the star freshie came on to substitute Ethan as the key attacker. Nauman looked to have had the set of his life as he pranced around heading and spiking against KE, battering them to a 15-5 finish. The first Regu concluded in a 15-3, 15-6, 15-5 finish all in EH’s favour.
Nauman with his flashy overhead kicks which are proven unstoppable.
In the second set, the captain himself, Keefe came onto the court as he aims to seal off the game. The line-up for the second set was Keefe, Said, Shawn, CJ. This pure senior line-up was as deadly as the first as nobody in the opposing team had an answer to Shawn’s headers. Shawn made it look effortless as he repeatedly used his head to smash the ball onto the opposing side of the court. Said and Keefe also held a strong defensive line as they refused to let the opponent score a point from their attacks. To add to their stellar performance, Keefe himself aced the opponents numerous times, brewing up a huge lead, giving KE no fighting chance to get back into the game. CJ came on for the 3rd set to bring more assists for Shawn as he does his habitual deadly headers as they head off to finish the game with a 15-6, 15-3, 15-6 blowout to take home the second regu.
Shawn with his head of steel launching the ball toward his opponents.
For the 3rd and final Regu, we have Zaheer, Tham, Deme, Jeff. With a bandana on his head, Zaheer, the teppanyaki chef served a piping hot show for the audience as he sets play after play up for Deme to finish off each point with a menacing back header or a roll spike. Tham calmly and consistently serves the ball over with little to no mistakes, giving the opponent a hard time in finding a point. Playing a more defensive game in the third regu, they slowly manage to snowball their way into a big lead, ending the first two sets 15-6, and 15-7. With a final twist of the game, the captain decided to put the giant Jeff onto the court as the main attacker. The man looked like he was playing around with the kids at the playground as he towered over the opponent and headed the ball into the opponent’s court. The overwhelming pressure proved too difficult for KE to overcome as we secured the third and final regu to sweep KE 3-0.
Jeff looking like a massive pirate as he jumps up to head the ball and scare the opponents.
Sepak Takraw Prelims vs KE
Overall score: 3-0
1st Regu: Ethan, Umar, Haiqal, Nauman
Set 1: 15-3 to EH
Set 2: 15-6 to EH
Set 3: 15-5 to EH
2nd Regu: Keefe, Said, Shawn, CJ
Set 1: 15-6 to EH
Set 2: 15-3 to EH
Set 3: 15-6 to EH
3rd Regu: Tham, Zaheer, Deme, Jeff
Set 1: 15-6 to EH
Set 2: 15-7 to EH
Set 3: 15-8 to EH
Watch our ‘do-re-mi’ in action this IHG! All the best boys!
The Takraw boys will be looking to beat KR on Wednesday(4/1) to secure their place in the semis. Be sure to catch it live on telegram commentary or on the SMC Instagram live from 12 pm to 2 pm!
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