KUALA LUMPUR (23 December, 2016): Puchong United BC recorded a slim 10-9 win over Kepong BC to stay in contention to qualify into knockout stages of the SS Purple League 2016/17 season as one of the best six teams earlier today at Gem in Mall, Cyberjaya.
Both teams were determined to prove doubters wrong as they found themselves on the wrong side of the standings after two rounds of matches.
Puchong United got off to a perfect start thanks to Chong Wei Feng’s win in the first men’s singles match. The veteran showed his experience in beating the younger Lim Chi Wing 2-1 (11-7, 11-8, 5-11). Wei Feng himself was relieved after winning his first match of the season after three attempts.
In the women’s singles match, the score was all square after 30 minutes. Neither player could outdo one another as Puchong United’s Chinese international Pan Lu and Kepong’s star, Tee Jing Yi played to a 2-2 draw (11-4, 7-11, 11-10, 7-11).
The men’s doubles match produced another 2-2 stalemate. Mohd Hafiz Hashim alongside his one-time partner, Mohd Razif Ab Latif managed to secure a draw for Kepong despite trailing the first two sets to Puchong United’s Lim Khim Wah and Low Juan Shen.
Both sides were still in an uncomfortable position after the mixed doubles match as both pairs played to yet another 2-2 draw. The Kepong pair of Amitrapai Savitree and Potieng Trawut too came back from two sets down to draw level with Puchong United’s Goh Liu Ying and Yoo Yeon Seong. Puchong United were still holding a slender lead at that point.
Puchong United could finally breathe a sigh of relief after securing the win in the last match of the tie after Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk’s draw with Thongnuam Pannawit 2-2 (5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 7-9) in all-Thai encounter.
“I am pleased with my performance. But it is very disappointing that we led in majority of the matches today only for our opponents to catch up to secure the draws. It is a waste because we could have gotten more points. But our performance as a team is still convincing and I hope it will propel us to a top six finish,” said Puchong United’s Chong Wei Feng.
In yesterday’s late SSPL2016/17 match, Petaling BC secured their first win of the season after overcoming a hapless Serdang BC side 15-1. Led by Rio Olympics silver medallist, Goh V Shem, Petaling managed to cruise past Serdang in the first four matches with a 3-0 score-line.
However, Petaling could not complete a clean sweep as Lu Chia Hung managed to win a consolation point in the last men’s singles match against Iskandar Zulkarnian.
SSPL 2016/17 Results (23 December 2016)
(4pm) Puchong United BC bt Kepong BC 10-9
MS2: Chong Wei Feng bt Lim Chi Wing 2-1 (11-7, 11-8, 5-11)
WS: Pan Lu drew with Tee Jing Yi 2-2 (11-4, 7-11, 11-10, 7-11)
MD: Lim Khim Wah-Low Juan Shen drew with Mohd Hafiz Hashim-Mohd Razif Ab Latif 2-2 (11-7 11-9 6-11 6-7)
XD: Goh Liu Ying-Yoo Yeon Seong drew with Amitrapai Savitree-Potieng Trawut 2-2 (11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 3-4)
MS1: Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk drew with Thongnuam Pannawit 2-2 (5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 7-9)
SSPL 2016/17 Results (22 December 2016)
(8pm) Petaling BC bt Serdang BC 15-1
MS2: Kenichi Tago bt Xu Yiming 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 5-3)
WS: Hera Desiana Rachmawati bt Chen Hsiao Huan 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-8)
MD: Chen Tang Jie-Goh V Shem bt Ooi Zi Heng-Tseng Min Hao 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-7)
XD: Agripinna Prima Ramanto-Devi Tika Permatasari bt Ong Wei Khoon-Yap Cheng Wen 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-6)
MS1: Iskandar Zulkarnain bt Lu Chia Hung 3-1 (6-11, 11-0, 11-4, 11-3)
SSPL2016/17 Fixtures (23 December 2016)
(8pm) Petaling Jaya BC vs Ampang Jaya BC
