Taiwanese rule volley qualifier

Cebu – Chinese Taipei leaned on skipper Lin Hsien Chen as it trounced a hard fighting Indonesia, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, yesterday to top the FIVB World Championship qualifier at the University of San Carlos Gym here.

Hsien, the oldest in the team at 26 and the most experienced with stints in at least 20 national teams, unleashed an attacking spree with 28 hits, including 23 on spikes, as the Taiwanese completed a four-game sweep of this meet backed by the PSC, Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau, Cebu Sports Commission, Sogo Hotel, Air Philippines, Bacchus Energy Drink and WG&A.

Lien Chen Chih and Teng Cheng Wei provided the needed backup as they combined for 29 points for the win that gained Chinese Taipei a berth in the second round in the company of Korea and Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan in June.

It also avenged the Taiwanese’s previous losses to the Indonesians in the 1999 Asian Championship in Teheran, Iran and in a 1.85-meter and under tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, last year.

The Indonesians, who will defend their title in the 23rd Manila Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5 this year, on the other hand, suffered their first loss in four outings but still made it to the next round in a group composed of India and China set in India, also in June.

A day after routing host Philippines in a quick, merciless straight-set triumph, Indonesia found itself dwarfed by Chinese Taipei’s awesome firepower upfront.

In the other game, host Philippines survived upset-conscious Tonga in a marathon, 25-27, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11, contest to finish third in the five-nation field.