Losing To Japan, The Indonesian Men's Volleyball Team Must Win In The Last Match Of The 2023 Asian Games Group Preliminary

The Indonesian indoor men's volleyball team lost when they met Japan in the second match of the 2023 Asian Games Group F preliminary round, Wednesday, September 20. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian indoor men's volleyball national team lost when they met Japan in the second match of the 2023 Asian Games Group F preliminary round, Wednesday, September 20. Japan was too tough for the Red and White team who had to give up with a landslide score of 0-3.

Japan won 18-25, 20-25, and 18-25 while playing Indonesian games at the Deqing Sports Center Gymnasium, China.

This victory makes Japan perched at the top of Group F with 6 points. Meanwhile, for Indonesia, this defeat is clearly a disaster. This defeat made Indonesia obliged to win the match in the last match against Afghanistan, Thursday, September 21.

Opportunities remain open. Moreover, Afghanistan is arguably the weakest team after losing twice.

After falling from Japan, Afghanistan then lost three straight sets to the Philippines, the team that was previously beaten by Indonesia with a landslide score.

In the match against Japan, Indonesia started the first set badly. The coach's team Jiang Jie was immediately 0-3 behind and then continued to be 3-11 behind.

The Red and White team improved slightly by scoring 4 points at once and making the score 7-11 when Keihan Takahashi's efforts failed to score points for Japan.

After that, Japan again scored point by point and top, Jasen Natanael Kilanta, who failed to block well, making Japan secure the first set with a 25-18 advantage.

In the second set, Indonesia is still struggling where they are 0-3 behind again at the start of the set. Farhan Halim et al then trailed 6 points when the score showed 11-17 when the Masahiro Yanagida serve failed to be perfectly secured.

Anggil Anggara had made Indonesia's hopes grow to get the score closer in the 20-23 position. However, the spike from Kenta Tanakashi and a serve from Masahiro Yanagida that failed to be secured made Japan win the second set again with a score of 25-20.

The third set went tighter early in the set. The two teams followed each other's points until the score drew 3-3. After that, the spike from Kento Asano started Japan's lead until the score showed 13-7.

Indonesia had caught up when Farhan Halim's efforts failed to be driven away by Japanese players and made the score 8-13. However, after that Indonesia was again careless and made Japan move 8-16 away.

However, Keihan Takahashi's slick appearance, who scored the most points with 17 points, made Indonesia lose again in the third set with a score of 25-18.