Sengkurong B (yellow) and Sengkurong E (Grey) players in actions during the National Sepak Takraw Regu Tournament final at the multipurpose hall of the Menglait Sports Complex. BT/Md Asdeny Yakub
Sengkurong 'B' emerged as champions of the National Sepak Takraw Regu Tournament after defeating Sengkurong 'E' 2-1 (21-8, 23-21, 21-19) in yesterday's final.
"The game was very close and our level with our opponent (Sengkurong 'E') is almost the same because we train together everyday," said Sengkurong 'B' manager Nordin Hj Untong in an interview with The Brunei Times at the Menglait Sports Complex yesterday.
"They know our weaknesses and strengths and we know their's too, but at the end of the day, we wanted it more," he added.
Sengkurong 'B' defeated Sengkurong 'D' 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-21) in the semi-final earlier yesterday to set up an-all Sengkurong finals with Sengkurong 'E' - who cruised past BIPA 2-1 (9-21, 21-6,21-4).
"It was great win for us since we defeated teams which consists of national players (ANP Tutong and LP Tutong) in this tournament," said Sengkurong 'B' captain Masi Nordin.
"It was a bit relaxed in the final as we were facing our friends, but it was still a very good competitive match," he added.
Sengkurong sepak takraw teams has been dominating the tournaments in the country of late, with their recent achievement the Brunei Darussalam Sepak Takraw Association's (PESTABARU) His Majesty's 67th Birthday Celebration Inter-Regu tournament in October, where one of their teams were crowned champion.
Sengkurong 'C' defeated Brunei Darussalam Sports School 'A' 3-1 (15-11, 12-15, 15-12, 15-12) in the final of the tournament.
The tournament was organised by PESTABARU with the cooperation of the Department of Youth and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
Present as the guest of honour to award the prizes to the winners was the president of PESTABARU, Pg Hj Ali Hassan Pg DSLJ Hj Abas.
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 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.
Ittiphol spent 12 years in charge of the team, but last month's bronze medals in Myanmar were the first time in six tries that the country won a medal at the Games.
