Superb Indian Bank in final

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Indian Bank scripted a stellar comeback to upset ICF 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 in the semifinals of the Vollys Club 21st state level volleyball tournament here on Friday. In the other semi, IOB put out SDAT 25-22, 25-22, 25-20.

ICF, the defending champions, appeared on course for another final after a fine start, but the bank team rallied brilliantly to earn a well-deserved win. The hungrier team moved up.

The main reason for ICF’s downfall was their pathetic first pass throughout the tie. Attacker Didin was the main culprit as he resembled a headless chicken on the back court.

He was never able to read Indian Bank serves properly. Didin's mistakes piled up from the second set.

The bank side ruthlessly exposed the chink in ICF’s armour. S. Prabakaran, current senior Indian team player, and libero Kugan failed to respond to the situation. The ICF duo could have __ should have __ shielded Didin. But they never made an attempt.

Indian Bank coach Srinivasan’s decision to send K. Sayee Krishnan in place of a misfiring Kalaivanan midway through the first set proved to be a masterstroke.

Sayee, a battle-hardened veteran, wasn’t able to make an immediate impact but the universal played a key role in Indian Bank's resurgence later on. He attacked judiciously from the minus position to earn point after critical point.

Maybe younger players in the team should learn from him on the importance of using the brain in a game of power like volleyball.

Blocker S. Sarangan is turning out to be Indian Bank’s dependable player in the tournament. The youngster with a fine all-round game has a bright future if he keeps up the tempo.

He has the temperament to complement his skill. Indian Bank could have won even more easily if setter D. Yoganathan was able to feed more balls to Sarangan.

The bank team’s woes in the first set resulted from their inability to cope with Prabakaran’s dinks.

Stocky attacker S. Logeswaran, effective as he was in spiking, was woeful in reception. But he grew in confidence as the match wore on.

He was unstoppable in the fourth set. Logeswaran may lack the inches but he has awesome power in his hand. Indian Bank’s defence also improved dramatically towards the end. Didin was poor in attack as well, as his dreadful day spoiled ICF's late bid to mount a rally.

Earlier, Southern Railway bagged the women’s crown with an all-win record in the league. The odds-on favourite defeated last year winners St. Joseph’s College of Engineering 25-16, 25-22 to seal the issue in style. JBAS, who edged out Vels University in three sets, finished second.

Results

Women: Southern Railway bt St. Joseph’s 25-16, 25-22. JBAS bt Vels 21-25, 25-14, 25-21. Final standings: 1. Southern Railway, 2. JBAS, 3. St. Joseph’s, 4. Vels. Men: SF: Indian Bank bt ICF 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. IOB bt SDAT 25-22, 25-22, 25-20.
Action today: Final: Indian Bank vs IOB (7pm).