Surabaya Samator players hold a training prior to Pertamina Proliga 2015 at Tri Dharma Gresik Petrokimia stadium, Gresik, East Java on March 5, 2015. JG Photo/Jurnasyanto Sukarno

Jakarta. Gresik in East Java will host the second round of top-tier volleyball tournament Pertamina Proliga this weekend.

The tournament, which returns after a two-week break, will be held at Tri Darma Sports Hall from Friday to Sunday and will see several high-profile clashes.

Leading men’s team Jakarta Electric PLN will take on Surabaya Samator on Sunday evening, while leading women’s team Jakarta PGN Popsivo will face counterparts Jakarta Electric PLN on Saturday, and Jakarta Pertamina Energi on Sunday.

Electric and Popsivo will be the teams to beat at the tournament, but they are expected to face tough opposition as teams fight for the remaining places in the top four.

“We have tried our best to learn from last round’s mistakes and improve every player’s performance,” said Eko Priyono, the manager of women’s team Gresik Petrokimia.

Eko said the hometown team had replaced its foreign player in a bid to improve the team’s performance.

“Of course we want to win all matches here on home ground. We don’t want to let our supporters down, either.”

Petrokimia will face Jakarta Electric PLN on Friday and Jakarta BNI 46 on Sunday. The team failed to secure single win during the last tournament in Malang, East Java. They suffered straight 3-0 losses to BNI and Pertamina respectively.

“If we can’t win this week, it will be our big loss. Our chance to qualify for the top four is getting smaller. This is our chance to earn six points to keep the hope alive,” Eko added.

Proliga Director Hanny Surkatty said the battle among teams will be tougher this round as results will decide which teams advance to the last four.

“I’m expecting every match will be like a final match. Every match does matter. They win, the chance [to reach the last four] is bigger,” he said.

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Source: The Jakarta Globe