Jakarta, Indonesia, February 11, 2018 – Rivan Nurmulki, who won the Best Opposite Spiker award at the last year’s Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship on home soil in Gresik, scored 13 points to help his team capture the first victory in an all-Indonesians battle of the 18th Asian Games Men’s Volleyball Invitation Tournament at the Indoor Senayan Gymnasium in Jakarta on Sunday.
A strongly-built Rivan, who stands 194cm tall and weighs 83kg, led Indonesia A with 10 attacks from 20 attempts, 2 blocks and 1 ace serve, while Agung Seganti similarly contributed 13 points including 8 kills and 3 blocks for the Indonesia A’s hard-fought 25-23 25-21 25-20 win over Indonesia B in the single round-robin preliminaries.
In the other match, Japan, defending and consecutive two-time Asian winners but sending a young, promising team this time, recovered from the first-set down to cruise past Hong Kong in dramatic four sets 21-25 25-14 25-16 25-16.
Hiroki Ozawa emerged as the top scorer for Japan with 19 crucial points including 17 powerful attacks, 1 block shot and 1 serve. Jin Tsuzuki and Kento Miyaura added 17 and 16 points respectively for the Japan’s come-from-behind victory.
On Monday, Japan are due to next take on Indonesia B, while Hong Kong will go up against Indonesia A.
Indonesia A, Indonesia B, Japan and Hong Kong are competing in the Test Event Asian Games 2018, which is being held to review Indonesia’s preparation and operations ahead of their staging of this year’s Asian Games. The 18th Asian Games in Indonesia will take place in Jakarta and Palembang between August 18 to September 2 and it will be for the first time that the quadrennial competition will be co-hosted by two cities.
Sunday’s results
Round-robin preliminaries
Indonesia A b Indonesia B 3-0 (25-23 25-21 25-20) 68 minutes
Japan b Hong Kong 3-1 (21-25 25-14 25-16 25-16)
Match schedule
Monday, February 12
4pm: Indonesia B v Japan
7pm: Indonesia A v Hong Kong
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