Panaga Seria made a huge comeback in rising from the lower bracket to secure the champion title in the sepak takraw competition at the multi-purpose hall at the Mumong Sports Complex on Sunday.
The competition was held in a double-elimination format which saw 16 teams competing. The teams were Lorong Tengah Seria, Kampong Lumut ‘A’, Kampong Lumut ‘B’, Kampong Lumut ‘C’, Panaga Seria, Singa Menteri KB ‘A’, Singa Menteri KB ‘B’, Singa Menteri KB ‘C’, Mukim Bukit Sawat ‘A’, Mukim Bukit Sawat ‘B’, Kampong Pandan ‘A’ STKB, Kampong Pandan ‘B’ STKB, Mukim Belait (Legacy), Kampong Mumong (Warriors), Kerma Negara Belait, and Mukim Melilas.
Panaga Seria started with a deficit early in the competition as they lost to Singa Menteri KB ‘B’ in the first round of matches on August 11.
Undeterred, Panaga Seria managed to climb the ranks in the lower brackets, and eventually defeated Kampong Pandan ‘A’ STKB who finished fourth as a result.
Panaga Seria then defeated Kampong Mumong in the lower brackets, who then finished third, propelling Panaga Seria into the finals to face off against Singa Menteri KB ‘B’, who had been dominating the competition’s upper bracket.
In the finals, in a best of three-sets, Panaga Seria won the first set with a nine-point lead, 21-12. While Singa Menteri ‘B’ put up a good fight in the second set, Panaga Seria managed to secure the win with a mere two-point lead finishing 21-19.
Penghulu of Mukim Belait Haji Abdul Afiq bin Zainuddin presented the trophies.
The three-day event was held as part of the Mukim Community Sports for the Belait District, organised by the Belait District Branch of the Youth and Sports Department and the Belait District Office in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 77th birthday celebration. – Daniel Lim
