President’s Gold Cup 2007:

Siriduwa SC, Navodya SC win Gold Cups

Bernard PERERA

VOLLEYBALL: Siriduwa Sports Club from Seeduwa carried away the Dialog GSM President’s Gold Cup in the men’s category beating Vijaya Sports Club from Koswadiya three sets to two (23-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11).

In the women’s group it was Navodya Sports Club from Bopitiya were the winners when they outplayed Golden Birds SC from Radawana.

The men’s final ended in a tense battle when both teams fought all the way from the word go. It was Vijaya SC who were in front in the first set. They never allowed their opponents to come closer to them until the final stages of this set.

The winners had a lead of six points but Seeduwa lads fought back gallantly to reduce the lead and lost the set at 25-23.

The second set took a different turn with the lads from Seeeduwa making strong come back from the early stages and went on to a lead of five points 10-5. They hung onto the lead right through the set and ended it in their favour 25-20. This also levelled one set each which showed that the game was heading towards a five set finish.

Once again the third set began with Vijaya SC moving ahead but the Siriduwa lads levelled at six-all, and cruised along to gain a lead of two points. Vijaya SC came back once again to level at three-all.

From there onward they kept on moving steadily. At this stage few mistakes from which the Vijaya SC gained the maximum to win the set at 25-21. Vijaya leading at 2-1.

The fourth set was more interesting with Vijaya SC going into an early lead. Seeduwa’s spikers put on a steady wall to halt their opponents from collecting points at will and also manage to equal at nine-all.

Then came the turn around with Koswadiya grabbing the lead again. Their lead was short lived with Seeduwa collecting few points through top class spiking managed to overtake their opponents.

They moved on steadily with their skipper Dinesh Pradeep, Jagath Suranga and Thilanga Rukshan combining well to collect points through fine spiking and also set a well set wall to halt the flow of points for their opponents. They continued this practice to finish set 25-21 in their favour and to level at two-all, stretching the game to last set.

Vijaya SC moved to the court for this set with high hopes and made it clear that they are for it, collecting few points in quick time. But the never say die Seeduwa spikers made amends once again and got ahead of their opponents at 3-2. Their blocker did a fine job at this stage to halt Vijaya SC from scoring.

They moved on safely till they reach the target of 15 points. Vijaya SC could not penetrate the defence of Seeduwa and managed only 11 points to finish as runners-up after a hectic battle which produced the best spiking seen after long lapse.

Seeduwa’s Siriduwa SC went away with the trophy and a cash award of Rs. 100,000 while the runners-up Vijaya SC to receive a Trophy and Rs. 50,000.

In the women’s section it was Navodya Sports Club from Bopitiya defeated Golden Birds Sports Club from Radawana 3-1, 25-19, 24-26, 25-15, 28-26 to go away with the trophy and Rs. 100,000. The runners-up received a trophy and Rs. 50,000.

Navodya SC won the first set comfortably at 25-19. In the second set Golden Birds SC put up a gallant fightback to level at 1-1 (26-24). Bopitiya team got to the act once again in the next set and came as victors 25-15 to move ahead at 2-1.

But the fourth set was a thrilling one with both teams using everything what they had to make a match of it. It was such a close fight that it was stretched further until Navodya won the set at 28-26 and also the game, to be champions.

Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge was the chief guest. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister for Youth Affairs former Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and present Minister of Lands Jeevan Kumaratunga, President of the Volleyball Federation Dilan Perera and MP Jayawickrama Perera were the guests of honour.

Chirantha de Soysa, Marketing Manager and Promotion of Sports of the sponsors Dialog GSM and Shevan Perera, Executive, Sports and Marketing Sports Dialog GSM represented the main sponsor Dialog GSM.

Results:

Champions - Women: Navodya Sports Club, Bopitiya. Runner-up: Golden Birds SC, Radawana.

Champions - Men: Siriduwa Sports Club, Seeduwa. Runners-up: Vijaya Sports Club, Koswadiya.

Special award: Men

Best Setter: Jagath Sanjaya (Siriduwa SC).

Best Spiker: Damith Ranga (Vijaya SC).

Best Defender: Manoj Fernando (Vijaya SC).

Best Server: Thilanga Rukshan (Siriduwa SC).

Best Blocker: S. Suranga (Vijaya SC).

Best Libero: Charith Nishan (Siriduwa SC).

Best Player: Dinesh Pradeep (Siriduwa SC).

Women:

Best Setter: Deepika Sirimanne (Navodya SC).

Best Spiker: J. A. R. Nilmini (Navodya SC).

Best Receiver: S. A. Nilmini Damayanthi (Navodya SC).

Best Server: P. A. Hasanthi Piumali (Golden Birds SC).

Best Defender: Deepika Gunewardene (Golden Birds SC).

Best Blocker: Devika Kapila Kumari (Golden Birds SC).

Best Players: Geethika Lalani Gunewardene (Golden Birds SC).