Bangkok, Thailand, May 8, 2023 – Indonesia successfully defended their title at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Men’s Volleyball Tournament following comfortable straight-set win against hosts Cambodia to extend their domination over the biennial regional multi-sport event to 12 titles including three in succession.
The exceptional 25-21, 25-10, 25-15 victory at the packed 5,000-seater Olympic Complex Indoor Main Hall in Phnom Penh on Monday handed Indonesia not only back-to-back win against Cambodia, the old foes they had already beaten in the pool play earlier, but also the 12th SEA Game title with remarkable unbeaten record.
Furthermore, Indonesia became the only team undefeated since the opening day of the competition on May 3 until the last day of the men’s volleyball tournament in Phnom Penh on May 8, not losing a set to their respective rivals en route to their successful title defence. For Indonesia, it was incredibly amazing that they had performed in the last three editions – similarly beating hosts 3-0 in the final showdown.
As Thailand had captured the SEA Games title four times in a row (2011-2013-2015-2017), Indonesia dominated the latest three editions – beating hosts Philippines 3-0 in the final for their tile in 2019 before demolishing hosts Vietnam 3-0 in the final in 2021 and stunning hosts Cambodia 3-0 in the final in 2023 for three in succession and 12 titles in total (1981 in Manila (Philippines), 1987 in Jakarta (Indonesia), 1989 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), 1991 in Manila (Philippines), 1993 in Singapore, 1997 in Jakarta (Indonesia), 2003 in Ninh Binh (Vietnam), 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand), 2009 in Vientiane (Laos), 2019 in Pasig (Philippines), 2021 in Quang Ninh (Vietnam) and 2023 in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).
In the Monday’s gold-medal match, star spiker Rivan Nurmulki scored a match high 22 points including 21 attacks for Indonesia, with Farhan Halim adding 19 including 10 attacks and team-leading 8 aces. No player scored double digits for Cambodia, with Sarun Pin scoring 9 points on the host side’s losing effort.
Earlier, former eight-time SEA Games champions and world No.64 Thailand failed to make their mark as they went down to Vietnam, the team they had beaten 3-1 in the pool play, 18-25, 20-25, 20-25 in the third-place playoff clash to return empty-handed for consecutive two times.
At the previous edition in Vietnam, Thailand left the Quang Ninh Gymnasium with heads low in…
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