SMK Paku makes clean sweep of Under-18 hockey titles

KUCHING: SMK Paku successfully defended their title to again emerge as champions in the Kuching U18 school championship at the Sarawak Hockey Stadium.

The Friday final saw the defending champs again beat SM Sains Kuching Utara (Sakura) to lift the title.

The finalists had made the second round by winning their respective groups A and B.

Group runners-up Semerah Padi and Kuching High also made the second round which was the quarter-finals.

Group C and D were won by Bako and Sri Matang with Penrissen No. 1 and Sains Kuching taking the runner-up spots.

Sakura showed their determination to redeem themselves when they rolled over Sains Kuching 3-0 to make the semis.

Penrissen made it hard for Paku when the project school team had to dig deep to squeak by 1-0.

Sri Matang again made the semis when they won the penalty shootout 2-1 against Kuching High after a scoreless draw in regulation time.

The semi-final was a carbon copy of the 2019 edition when coach Ali Rahman’s Bako squad beat Semerah Padi 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Paku would make the final after beating Sri Matang 2-0 in the last four.

Sakura earned their berth the hard way after having to endure a 2-1 penalty shootout with Bako after a scoreless result in 30 minutes of regulation time.

Bako would take out their frustrations on Sri Matang to take the third spot with a 4-0 hammering as M Hafizan netted twice.

In the final Paku dominated early and virtually camped in the Sakura half.

They were duly rewarded for their aggressive play when Miroslave Ericsson scored in the 3rd min.

Sakura, despite being on the backfoot, managed to equalise when Danishton Dana converted a penalty corner in the 23rd min.

Paku dashed Sakura’s hopes in the very next minute as Marioni converted a penalty corner to give them a 2-1 win.

Meanwhile, the Kuching girls U18 title also went to Paku after they won on home turf.

SMK Paku is the only school in Sarawak with an Astroturf pitch.

The tourney held at the end of January saw Paku beat Bako to take the title. Lake was third with Matang Jaya fourth.

A SMK Paku forward goes up against Sakura defenders in the Kuching school championship final at the Sarawak Hockey Stadium on Friday.

Organiser Aris Selutan of SMK Penrissen No. 1 presents the trophy to SMK Paku official as coach Katherine Lambor and Hockey Association of Sarawak (HAS) secretary Kangot Awan look on.