EASY DAYS ARE OVER

SSTMI Juniors and SSMS Resilient fight on another level

THE two Division Two teams playing in the TNB Cup knockout competition are expected to face a torrid time in the quarter-finals on Friday.

For Division Two finalists SSTMI Juniors and SSMS Resilient from Sabah have been playing against weaker sides and will be thrown into the deep end of the pool in the quarter-finals.

In an open quarter-final draw, SSTMI Juniors were paired with Division one fourth placed team MSP-Thunderbolts from Pahang.

As for SSMS Resilient, who are Sabah Sports School boys, they will face third placed finishers in Division One BJSS Thunderbolts.

League champions PJCC Thunderbolts will play Anderson Thunderbolts – whom they beat 3-1 in the League.

The other quarter-finals will be between SSTMI Thunderbolts and Johor Juniors.

The Johor side are the surprise package this season, as they held SSTMI to a 1-1 draw, before losing 4-2 on shootout to qualify for the knockout.

In the women’s JHL, Kuala Lumpur Sports School (KLSS Wipers) beat Sabah Sports School Malaysia 4-2 to book a semi-final seat, while defending champions Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) also advanced to the semis after beating MSN-MSSPK-SMK Gunung Rapat 3-1.

The semi-finals will see MSSPPPSHA-USM face KL Wipers and SSTMI go head to head against MSN Kedah on May 14.

KLSS Wipers, who were finalists last season, will need to walk a fine line when they meet MSSPP-PSHA-USM as several players are carrying cards, and another infringement could see them miss the final should they qualify.

“We will speak to the players on what needs to be done. From there we will also have to change our structure for the next game depending on our opponents’ strengths,” said KLSS Wipers coach A. Kannagi.

FRIDAY – Division One Quarter-finals: PJCC Tigers v Anderson Thunderbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm), MSPThunderbolts v SSTMI Juniors (Kuantan, 5pm), SSTMI Thunderbolts v Johor Juniors (SSTMI, 5pm), BJSS Thunderbolts v SSMS Resilient (KLHA, 5pm).

SUNDAY – Women’s semi-finals:

SSTMI v MSN Kedah (KLHA, 4pm), PSHA-USM v KLSS-Wipers (KLHA, 6pm).