Indonesia, boosted by cheering home fans at the packed Padepokan Voli Jenderal Polisi Kunarto Gymnasium in Jakarta on Sunday, bounced back from the first-set loss to stun AVC Challenge Cup champions Thailand in their final First Leg encounter of the 2023 Southeast Asian Men’s Volleyball League (SEA V. League).
The comeback 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-23, 27-25) win handed Indonesia, current world No.68 and defending and successive three-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medallists, not only the eventual First-Leg title, but also a sweet revenge for their 2-3 loss to Thailand in round of Top 6 in the recent AVC Challenge Cup in Chinese Taipei.
Though competing without star spiker Rivan Nurmulki, Indonesia remained strong with the likes of Fahri Septian Putratama and Farhan Halim as both of them became the mainstays for the team’s dramatic win against the strong visitors.
Thailand demolished Vietnam and Philippines in straight sets in their first two matches, while Indonesia also followed suit to bag two straight wins in the single round-robin tournament. As a result, the Sunday’s highly-anticipated clash between them would decide the eventual First-Leg winners in the 2023 SEA V. League.
In the first set, Thailand stayed in control until Kissada Nilsawai fired a powerful shot to help the team lead with a three-point clear at 24-21. Miscommunication in the Indonesian team a minute later cost them dear with the well-organized Thais running away with the first set win 25-21.
Conceding one set, Indonesia came back much stronger in the second set to race to an initial 15-9 lead and extend it to 20-14. After that, both sides came up with service errors, but riding the momentum and the inspiration coming from the cheering fans, the host side broke away to win the set 25-17.
In the third set, Thailand opened an early 5-2 lead and widened it to 12-8 before the Indonesians fought back hard to win four points in a row and caught the opponents at 12-12. Both sides then played neck and neck until the score was tied at 23-23. Indonesia requested timeout and back on court, they managed to hold on to their advantage, winning back to back for another set win 25-23.
With Fahri and Farhan on fire in attack in the fourth set, Indonesia stormed on with their powerful attacks and impeccable defence to take an initial 8-5 lead and widen it to 18-14. The on-going duel got tougher with both sides giving it all out. As the Indonesians were taking a narrow 25-24 lead,…
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