KUALA LUMPUR (5 January 2018): It was a case of ‘too little too late’ for Serdang Badminton Club (BC) despite recording their first win (11-7) of the SS Purple League (SSPL) 2017/18 Phase 1 season against Bangsar Hawks BC at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road earlier today.
Serdang BC were already mathematically eliminated from the SSPL 2017/18 Finals qualification equation but were eager to give a good account of themselves. The Hawks on the other hand still had an outside chance of qualifying for the Finals provided they win the match by a large margin.
But it was the team from Serdang who got off to a flyer as they raced into a 6-0 lead thanks to wins in their first men’s singles and women’s singles match. Firstly, it was Leong Jun Hao with a routine straight sets (11-4, 11-8, 11-3) win over Bangsar Hawks BC’s Zhang Song Ye before Huang Qiong Hui registered another 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-5) win against the Hawks’ Yap Yee.
Bangsar Hawks BC finally got onto the score sheets courtesy of their men’s doubles pair, Dede Ryan Philip and Yap Qar Siong. Dede and Yap beat Serdang BC’s Ong Wei Khoon and Mohd Syazmil Idham 3-2 (11-10, 6-11, 5-11, 11-1, 11-6) in the third match of the tie.
The Hawks narrowed the gap after Liu Lin and Muhd Aliff Nurizwan’s straight sets (11-6, 11-8, 11-9) win over Serdang BC’s Tan Sueh Jeou and Derek Yeoh in the mixed doubles match.
With the game still all to play for, Serdang BC’s Lee Zii Jia stepped up to the plate to secure his team’s first win of the season as he breezed past Bangsar Hawks BC’s Zulhelmi Zulkiffli 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 10-11, 11-8) in the decisive second men’s singles match.
“It’s a relief to finally get that first win even though it’s towards the end of Phase 1. It’s a pity that we lost many matches narrowly with a 10-11 scoreline. Maybe our opponents are just too experienced for our young team. I can just hope that we win the 7th/8th playoff match as a consolation and come back stronger next season,” said Serdang BC’s head coach, Ong Ewe Hock.
Both Serdang BC and Bangsar Hawks BC have to settle for a 7th/8th placing match which will be held during the SSPL 2017/18 Phase 2 at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road from 26-28 January.
Meanwhile, Cheras BC ended their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 campaign on a high after defeating an under-strength Petaling BC side 11-7 during their match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road earlier today.
There was no splitting both sides early on as the first men’s singles match between Petaling BC’s Tan Chun Seang and Cheras BC’s Chong Yee Han ended in a 2-2 (10-11, 11-6, 11-10, 5-11) draw.
Hera Desiana Rachmawati put Petaling BC in the lead with a splendid 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-8) winning performance against Cheras BC’s Singaporean import, Grace Chua Hui Zhen. But the lead only lasted momentarily as Cheras BC came roaring back in the men’s doubles match.
Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Tan Wee Gieen recorded a 3-0 (11-3, 11-10, 11-6) win of their own as they overcame Petaling BC’s pair of Ian Wong Jien Sern and Man Wei Chong to level the overall score at 5-5.
Then it was Cheras BC who took the lead as their mixed doubles pair, Payee Lim Peiy Yee and Terry Hee Yong Kai continued their fine form to beat Petaling BC’s Indonesian pair, Devi Tika Permatasari and Irfan Fadhilah 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9) in the fourth match of the tie.
Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi sealed the wonderful win for Cheras BC as he defeated Petaling BC’s Iskandar Zulkarnain 3-1 (11-6, 10-11, 11-10, 3-2) in the last men’s singles match.
“It is important that we win our last game of this phase so we can carry forward the winning momentum to Phase 2. I am also glad that we confirmed our spot in the Finals. I will stick to this same line-up for Phase 2 as we need to develop the consistency in the build up to the Finals,” said Cheras BC’s head coach, Nova Armada.
The result ensured both sides’ qualification to the SSPL 2017/18 Finals in Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting next month.
SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Results (5/1/2018)
(8pm) Bangsar Hawks BC lost to Serdang BC 7-11
MS2: Zhang Song Ye lost to Leong Jun Hao 0-3 (4-11, 8-11, 3-11)
WS: Yap Yee lost to Huang Qiong Hui 0-3 (6-11, 8-11, 5-11)
MD: Dede Ryan Philip-Yap Qar Siong bt Mohd Syazmil Idham-Ong Wei Khoon 3-2 (11-10, 6-11, 5-11, 11-1, 11-6)
XD: Liu Lin-Muhd Aliff Nurizwan bt Derek Yeoh-Tan Sueh Jeou 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-9)
MS1: Zulhelmi Zulkiffli lost to Lee Zii Jia 1-3 (7-11, 9-11, 11-10, 8-11)
(4pm) Petaling BC lost to Cheras BC 7-11
MS2: Tan Chun Seang drew with Chong Yee Han 2-2 (10-11, 11-6, 11-10, 5-11)
WS: Hera Desiana Rachmawati bt Grace Chua Hui Zhen 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-8)
MD: Ian Wong Jien Sern-Man Wei Chong lost to Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Tan Wee Gieen 0-3 (3-11, 10-11, 6-11)
XD: Devi Tika Permatasari-Irfan Fadhilah lost to Payee Lim Peiy Yee-Terry Hee Yong Kai 1-3 (11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 9-11)
MS1: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin lost to Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi 1-3 (6-11, 11-10, 10-11, 2-3)
