ISTAF Super Series Thailand 2015 Finals

This is why you have wild-cards! Much as I agree with the ISTAF SuperSeries format where the elite eight in the men’s and the super six in the women’s game fight it out at every tournament, I think there needs to be a wild-card or two at each event, provided that they can raise their game and prove they belong.

Here in Nakhon Pathom, we have two wild-cards in the men’s event. China and Indonesia were unable to attend, and it was decided to invite India and Philippines, who are very much the best of the rest. India struggled to get going, but they showed on Thursday that they have potential in beating Singapore in a three-set classic in the opening 5 – 8 place play-off. They have also had some good news from the Indian government recently with sepaktakraw now being upgraded to a “priority sport” in the country, which will afford them more support, both in terms of finances and infrastructure.

photo (c) ISTAF Sepaktakraw Facebook Page

As for the other wild-cards, well… Let’s hear it for the Philippines! Not only did they take it to both Thailand in the group stages and Malaysia in the semis (and how!), they played with the kind of spark that can be missing from the game at some times. The country is sepaktakraw-mad, and to have them involved on a regular basis would boost the sport both internationally (as the fans around the globe would love to see them) and back in The Philippines, who would benefit from seeing their heroes play on the biggest of stages on a regular basis.

Even the names of the players are evocative – Ronsited Gabayeron, Jason Huerte and Rheyjey Ortouste are a commentator’s dream when they’re buzzing around the court, firing down aces and flying through the air at the net! Their names are as flamboyant as their style of sepaktakraw, and they play with a Spanish flair which matches their heritage.

“We feel confident going into every match,” said Karen Caballero, secretary general of the Philippines Sepaktakraw Association. “We came here as wild-cards but we like to think of ourselves as dark horses – the kind of team that can do well at any tournament.”

Here’s hoping – from my perspective at any rate – that we see a lot more of these dark horses at ISTAF tournaments in the future. After Thailand and Malaysia, we now regularly have a good Myanmar team on hand after they finally came into the ISTAF fold. The top Korean players can beat – and have beaten – anyone on their day, so with a strong Philippines, we could have groups and knock-out games on a knife-edge every time we come together for a tournament.

Source: http://istafsuperseries.com/

Athletes:

Jason Huerte, Emmanuel Escote, Rheyjey Ortouste, Arnel Isorena, Ronsited Gabayeron

Results:

Preliminary: Pool A

October 20: vs. India | WON 2-0

October 20: vs. Myanmar | WON 2-1

October 21: vs. Thailand | LOST 0-2

Semifinals: vs. Malaysia | LOST 1-2

Battle for Bronze: vs. Japan | WON 2-0

Team Rankings:

1st - Thailand

2nd - Malaysia

3rd - Philippines

4th - Japan

5th - Myanmar

6th - India

7th - Singapore

8th - Korea

Highlights: 

Preliminary | vs. India

Preliminary | vs. Myanmar

Preliminary | vs. Thailand

Semifinals | vs. Malaysia