16th Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball Trophy 2023 enters semifinals

The semis: Chienino Brothers, Kiruphema Vs Ozumi Volleyball Team; MH10, Kohima Vs Peren District Volleyball Association

After three days of intense competition and 40 exhilarating matches at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Mokokchung, the 16th Imchaba Master Memorial Nagaland Open Volleyball Trophy 2023 is on the verge of an exciting climax. Four exceptional teams—Chienino Brothers, Kiruphema; MH10 Kohima; Ozumi Volleyball Team; and Peren District Volleyball Association—have emerged as the semi-finalists on Thursday, edging us closer to the crowning of a champion.

Day 3 of the tournament was marked by gripping encounters, unexpected twists, and teams battling fiercely to stay in the competition. Here are the key highlights:

Match 31: Chienino Brothers, Kiruphema, asserted their dominance by securing the top spot in Pool A. In their tournament debut, they left a resounding mark by winning all their league round matches. Their victory over Tongden Club B in straight sets (25-10, 25-17) sent a clear message.

Match 32: G-Sports Mokokchung faced elimination as Changtongya Volleyball Association (CVA) displayed their resilience in an intense contest. Despite G-Sports initially outperforming CVA in the first set (25-17), CVA bounced back with determination to win the second and decisive sets (25-12, 15-12). CVA secured the Pool A runner-up position and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they would meet defending champions MH10.

Match 33: Defending champions MH10, Kohima showcased their prowess by earning a clean sweep in the league round. They secured their spot in the quarter-finals by defeating JN Aier Memorial Club Yajang C in straight sets (25-22, 25-7).

Match 34: A spirited encounter between United Changki and Archippus Club Dimapur determined the Pool C runner-up. Despite a fiercely contested second set, United Changki claimed victory (25-21, 28-26), earning a quarter-final clash with Peren Volleyball Association.

Match 35: Longsa Sporting Association delivered a commanding performance, securing a straight-set victory over Rongpang Club Tzurangkong (25-16, 25-15).

Match 36: Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘B’ emerged as the Pool D runner-up by defeating Tongden Club A in straight sets (25-20, 25-17). They advanced to face Ozumi Volleyball Club in the knockout stage.

Quarter-finals

On the evening of Day 3, the quarter finals took center stage, setting the tone for the semi-finals:

In the 1st quarterfinal, Chienino Brothers, Kiruphema, showcased their class by defeating the Mokokchung District Inter Ward champions, Kumlong Sporting Association, in straight sets (25-20, 25-17).

The 2nd quarterfinal featured a showdown between defending champions MH10 and former champions Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘A’, a flashback to the previous edition’s finals. The outcome mirrored last year’s, as MH10 secured victory in straight sets (25-17, 25-20).

The 3rd quarterfinal saw Ozumi Volleyball Team overcoming Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘B’ in a hard-fought contest, winning in three sets (25-22, 22-25, 25-13) to secure their place in the semi-finals.

In the 4th and last quarterfinal match of the day, United Changki fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, losing to Peren District Volleyball Association in straight sets (23-25, 23-25).
The match patron for the 1st and 2nd quarterfinals was Lanutemsu, Deputy Commandant, 3 NAP Tuensang while Lanutoshi Aier, President AKM, was the match patron for the 3rd and 4th quarter finals.

Road to the Final

With the semifinals approaching, anticipation and excitement are reaching a fever pitch. The semifinal matchups are as follows:

Chienino Brothers, Kiruphema will clash with Ozumi Volleyball Team, the sole representative from Mokokchung in the last four. The match promises a thrilling test of skill and determination.

Defending champions MH10, Kohima are set to face the formidable challenge posed by Peren District Volleyball Association, setting the stage for a fierce battle for a spot in the championship match.

The semi finals are scheduled to commence on Friday, the fourth day of the tournament from 10 AM onwards, featuring a best-of-five match setup. The final showdown, where the next champion will be crowned, is set to begin at 2:30 PM, with Tsüvisie Phoji, NCS, Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, gracing the event as the match patron.