Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) Tigers took another a big step towards winning the 2017 TNB Malaysian Junior Hockey League when they beat Pahang Hockey Academy (AHP)-MSP-Thunderbolt 3-2 at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium on Friday.
But the title race is expected to go to the wire in Sunday’s last league match after defending champions Tunku Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolt, who are second in the league and two points behind the leaders, thrashed Olak-Nurinsafi 8-1 at home.
Third-placed Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolt, who have an outside chance of winning the title should the two sides lose, also notched a 4-1 win over SMK Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors to stay in the running.
In the other Division One matches played, Anderson Thunderbolt beat Politeknik Malaysia KPT 3-2 at the Education Ministry Turf in Jalan Pantai.
League leaders MBPJ Tigers have 21 points after eight matches, while SSTMI Thunderbolt have 19 and BJSS Thunderbolt 18 points. Pahang Hockey Academy, SMK Dato Bentara Luar Johor Juniors and Anderson all have 14 points followed by UniKL Young Guns with 9, Olak-Nurinsafi and Politeknik Malaysia KPT pooled five points each and BJSS Juniors at the bottom with just one point.
Despite going up 1-0 in the seventh minute through a Muhd Syamin Naim Abdul Hamid field goal, things could have gone completely wrong for MBPJ, who started the match with the instructions to slow down the tempo.
Two field goals in the 18th and 28th minutes from Pahang Hockey Academy’s Muhd Hazzim Amin Hafidz put MBPJ on the back foot but their resilience shined through as they clawed their way to victory with field goals from Muhd Nur Asyraf Ishak and Ahmad Hariz Syazani Ezani in the 39th and 48th minute respectively.
MBPJ coach Mohd Harfizi Baharom was delighted with the win but admitted that it could have all gone very wrong for his team.
“We decided to start like we did in the last match, to slow down the tempo. But after we went 1-0 up, Pahang Hockey Academy took control and at half-time we were trailing them.”
“It was a must win match today, and my boys showed their desire and resilience after the break. They came back strong and here we are, one win from the title,” said Mohd Harfizi.
As they will play their last match at home against Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolt, Mohd Harfizi is hoping that there will be a big turnout at the MBPJ Stadium to provide his boys with morale support.
“BJSS are a strong side and very experienced. If our fans come in, I am confident we can win it as the boys will be stronger emotionally to deliver.”
In Division 2, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School Juniors will play in the final on Sunday after finishing top of Group X with six points from two matches. They face Group Y table toppers Sabah Sports School Malaysia Resilient.
MSNSSN Young Lion, who finished second in Group X, will face Group Y’s second-placed side MBMB Warriors in the 3rd- 4th playoffs
In the only Women League quarterfinal match today, MSSPP-PSHA USM defeated Johor Juniors 3-0 to check into the May 14 semi-finals.
Results
Boys Division 1:
AHP-MSP-Thunderbolt 2 MBPJ Tigers 3; Politeknik Malaysia KPT 2 Anderson Thunderbolt 3; BJSS Thunderbolt 4 SMKDBL Johor Juniors 1; SSTMI Thunderbolt 8 Olak-Nurinsafi 1.
Division 2
Thursday
(Group X): SSTMI Juniors 4 MBFM-FELDA Juniors 0;
(Group Y): MSSPP-PHA-USM 1 SSMS Resilient 4;
Friday
(Group X): MSNSSN Young Lion 3 MBFM-Felda Juniors 1;
(Group Y): SSMS Resilient 5 MBMB Warriors 1.
Women’s Quarter-Finals:
MSSPP-PSHA-USM 3 Johor Juniors 0.
Fixtures
Women’s Quarter-Finals (May 6, Saturday): PKS UNITEN-KPT v MSN Kedah (MBPJ, 4pm); Tunku Ismail Sports School v MSN-MSSPK-SMKGR (SSTMI, 5pm); WIPERS-KLSS v Sabah Malaysia Sports School (KLHA, 5pm)
Boys Division 1 (May 7, Sunday): Olak-Nurinsafi v Politeknik Malaysia KPT (Pandamaran Hockey Stadium, 5pm); Anderson Thunderbolt v UniKL Young Guns (Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium, 5pm); SMKDBL Johor Juniors v SSTMI Thunderbolt (Batu Pahat, 5pm); MBPJ Tiger v BJSS Thunderbolt (MBPJ Hockey Stadium, 6pm); BJSS Juniors v AHP-MSP-Thunderbolt (Ministry of Education Turf, 5pm).
