CHENNAI: All-round display helped ONGC (Dehradun) beat hosts IOB 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 in a gripping men’s final of the IOB Platinum Jubilee National Club Volleyball Championship at the Montfort Indoor Stadium here on Saturday. ONGC not only benefited from consolidation but also from IOB’s poor court movement. IOB’s combination failed at crucial junctures. The backcourt was poorly manned on several occasions.
IOB’s serve was good, boosting too was adequate, but their blocking was not effective. In contrast, ONGC scored the majority of their points through excellent blocking and placement. Mandeep, Lalit and Rahul virtually formed a wall, which IOB’s attackers could not penetrate. Their effort made up for ONGC’s feeble serve. Plus ONGC benefited from the likes of Subba Rao, who blocked and smashed brilliantly. Added to that, ONGC retrieved better.
In IOB’s case if Naveen served well, Selva fumbled one. Plus several of their smashes were off target.
In the decider, IOB fought back after being down with excellent returns and looked like winning the set. But ONGC pulled up their socks in the final stages and went for an all-round assault to wrap up the set and title.
ONGC took home the winners prize of `1.5 Lakh. HSIIDC defeated Customs 25-22, 17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-10 to finish third. In the women’s section, Southern Railway bagged the title. They beat Central Railway 3-1 in their last league game.
