The Hindu : Sport / Volleyball : Bharath Petroleum makes it four in a row

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Saturday, Nov 14, 2009
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Bharath Petroleum makes it four in a row

— Photo: H. Vibhu

BPCL, Kochi, which won the PSPB all-India inter-unit volleyball championship at Kochi on Friday.

KOCHI: Tom Joseph was in fiery form as host BPCL defeated ONGC 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 and retained the Petroleum Board all-India inter-unit volleyball title at the BPCL Kochi Refinery indoor stadium here on Friday evening. It was Bharat Petroleum’s fourth straight triumph.

The final between two of the country’s top teams was supposed to be mainly a fight between former international Tom and ONGC’s current India player Mandeep Singh, who landed from Iran to play the final, but the home team’s star won the battle hands down.

Utilising the seasoned playmaker B. Anil’s wily lifts smartly, Tom dominated from both the front and back courts. The ONGC multiple-block could only watch helplessly and in dismay as Tom soared over the wall and came up with some telling smashes.

Good support came from the home captain Vibin M. George, who impressed with his fine allround performance, blocker Kishore Kumar and libero Kiran Philip.

The host enjoyed huge leads in the first two sets, 9-3 in the opener and 7-1 in the next, but ONGC bounced back strongly each time to make it a close race.

Lalit Kumar, with fine serves, smashes and drops, had a big hand in this come-back while Mandeep Singh, though not at his sparkling best, thrilled the crowd with his cross-court spiking.

Oil India third

Earlier, Oil India Ltd defeated Gas Authority of India Ltd 25-14, 25-14, 25-14 and finished third. S.P. Gathoo, Executive Director (HRS), BPCL, gave away the prizes.

Special prizes: Tom Joseph (BPCL, best attacker), Y. Subba Rao (ONGC, best blocker), B. Anil (BPCL, best setter), Kiran Philip (BPCL, best libero), Lalit Kumar (ONGC, best player). – Principal Correspondent

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