2019 TTV Premier League – Season 1 – Post Grand Final Report

Apologises for the late update! I have been very busy with my studies and only had today to do a Post Grand Final Report! But as much of a summary that I can capture below WILL NOT FULLY CAPTURE THE SPECTACLE THAT IT WAS!!!

Division 6

It was Albert Park versus Albert Park. Stars vs Sadlers. An encounter reminiscent of proceedings that occurred in Season 3, 2018 where the underdog stars defeated the top team all season. Could the mischievous Jim de Saint-Ferjeux conjure up new tricks with his partner, Melissa Grenville, against the father-son duo of Ben and Oskar??? In an unusual twist, Ben opted not to play the back-to-back singles but still comfortably won his two singles – in a display that showed he was the leading player. It was however comfortable losses for Oskar by the hands of Jim and Melissa. So it came down to the doubles and surprisingly ended in a comfortable win to the Sadlers. (Ben Sadler 2, Oskar Sadler 0, Doubles 1 def Jim de Saint-Ferjeux 1, Melissa Grenville 1, Doubles 0, 3-2)

Division 4

The next division to finish their tie was the expected 1 v 2 match up of Old Melburnians AP and Maccabi Pride. The first rubber was between the defensive Stephen Golding of Maccabi and Douglas Tsoi of Albert Park in which Tsoi was victorious in a dogged 5 game encounter. Chun Yu Liu then proceeded with a 4 game win over Marko Boskovski and leading player, Anthony Tran, defeated Ashley Duns in a tough 3 game encounter which each game determined by 2 points. Boscovski, obviously wanting to get a win to save Maccabi’s Pride, defeated Tsoi in 4 but with Albert Park having a 3-1 lead already, it only took Liu and Tran to dismantle the next two matches in straights as they march towards the premiership. (Douglas Tsoi 1, Chun Yu Liu 2, Anthon Tran 2 def Marko Boscovski 1, Stephen Golding 0, Ashley Duns 0, 5-1)

Division 2

Another top of the table clash was the final’s determinant for Season 1 of the TTV Premier League with the favourites Balwyn United going in against the veterans of St Kilda Cricket Red. Eddie Giam and star import, Harrison (Harson) Huang, took the first two in 4 games against the whimsical Peter Sheedy and awkward Graeme Strong. The first of 2 shocks then came next with the persistent Leigh Curson winning in a patient 5 game encounter against the leading player, Binh Vuong, having lost the first 2 games! Huang then ripped through Sheedy in 4 only to have Giam be ripped through Curson in 3. Vuong, to save his pride, won against Strong in another 5^th game marathon but it was all over for St Kilda when Huang tore about Curson’s defence in 3 easy games. (Eddie Giam 1, Harrison Huang 3, Binh Vuong 1 def Leigh Curson 2, Peter Sheedy 0, Graeme Strong 0, 5-2)

Division 5

It is Veterans vs Youth round 3! With Maccabi Menches going in with 2 wins against MUTTC AP Blue under their belt, the uni students of Xinran Zhao, Zehai Sun and Pengsheng Qin has to bring their best table tennis against Les Lesman, Boris Burd and Tamar Dolev (sub for John Cukier). Despite the hole Cukier left, it seemed it was going to be dour prospects when Burd beat Sun and Lesman defeated Zhao. Qin stopped the rampage by overcoming Dolev in 3 but it continued when Lesman outlasted Sun in 5. Maccabi was 3-1 at this stage but Qin continued to show why he was the leading player by defeating Burd and Zhao defeating Dolev and Qin to once again provide the goods with a 3 game win over Lesman. Sun ended the hopes of the Menches for MUTTC AP Blue to win 5-3. (Xinran Zhao 1, Zehai Sun 1, Pengsheng Qin 3 def Les Lesman 2, Boris Burd 1, Tamar Dolev 0, 5-3).

Division 3

As the results got closer and closer, so did the hours at MSAC. Two divisions to go and Division 3 went to the wire with the Sounds of Maccabi coming up against its Vision – a truly sensory experience! Dean Frenkel of the Sounds started proceedings but obviously his right arm hasn’t wound up properly and it took him 5 games to defeat the dark horse of Division 3, Ivan Blajer. Likewise the slow start occurred for leading player, Tim Le, as well as he lose his first match against the ever so awkward Yori Bargil in 5. Star fill in for the Vision, Zee Alboasi, knew what he needed to do for Jacob Shelton and proceeded to break through Mal D’Rosario’s defences to give the Vision a 2-1 lead. This wasn’t good for the Sounds who proceeded to level the tie at 3-3 after Le and D’Rosario accounted for Blajer and Bargil respectively in 3 whilst Frenkel succumbed to Alboasi in 4. Three very close matches followed with Alboasi being taken to 5 by Le, D’Rosario overcoming Blajer in 4 and the two awkward players of Frenkel and Bargil tossing and turning in 5 with Bargil coming on top and giving Maccabi Vision the foresight to win! (Yori Bargil 2, Zee Alboasi 3, Blajer 0 def Mal D’Rosario 2, Dean Frenkel 1, Tim Le 1, 5-4).

Division 1

The crown jewel of the TTV Premier League, Division 1, certainly put on an absolutely spectacle for the audience. The last division to finish on the night each with high quality matches and rallies. However it was between traditional rivals, Monash and Balwyn – Geelong United, and so it was only fitting that it went to the final match. Leading player, Richard Le, gave BGU the perfect start by rushing through Anthony Majtlis in 3. However Monash’s Indian Superstar, Parth Phansekar, demolished Robert Chan easily in 4 after Chan took the first 13-11. Rhys Thomas of BGU then saw off the challenge from Phil Riha to give BGU a 2-1 lead. Phansekar continued to show his quality with another 4 game win over Li as did Thomas in 3 over Majtlis. Interestingly, Riha took on the Chan challenge easily in 4 and so now games were level at 3-3. The battle between each team’s top player, Phansekar and Thomas, provided the show that was required. Thomas had a 2-1 lead and was leading consistently in the 4^th game where a tactical time out by Phansekar gave him the patience to win it. The 5^th game saw a similar scenario unfold but in the end it was Phansekar’s power and consistency that gave him the win. Li quite resolved the panic in the BGU camp with a solid 3-1 win over Riha and so it came down to the final rubber between Majtlis and Chan. Heading late into the night with the Competition Manager, Kameron, panicking about the lights and negotiating with MSAC a deal, it seemed all over for BGU again when Majtlis took the first 2 games of the five game match. However Chan relaxed and showed more consistency to come back from the dead to defeat Majtlis and give Balwyn – Geelong United, the taste of victory; stopping Monash from winning a third consecutive premiership. (Robert Chan 1, Richard Li 2, Rhys Thomas 2 def Anthony Majtlis 0, Phil Riha 1, Parth Phansekar 3, 5-4).

Another season down but another season begins! With the TTV Premier League taking a well-deserved break this week, we are BACK ON for GRADING NIGHT on WEDNESDAY 29^th MAY for NEW PLAYERS which will double up as a practise night for ALL CURRENT PLAYERS!

There is still time to sign up! Sign up by this weekend to be part of Monday’s draft draw release or by COB Friday 31^st May as the final entry date!!!

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE FOR ROUND 1 SEASON 2!!!