Indonesia Volleyball Team Starts SEA V Cup with Win, Coach Cites Fitness Concerns

The Indonesian men's putra volleyball team kicked off the second round of the SEA V Cup 2026 with a decisive 3-0 win against Cambodia. Playing at the Jakarta International Velodrome, the Garuda squad secured the victory with set scores of 26-24, 25-15, and 25-17.

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Yes, this is actually in line with what we planned. The children looked like they were playing hesitantly. They were still uncertain in terms of physical condition. There were points that were missed, delayed, or attacks that were not maximized. That's because of their physical condition.

However, head coach Reidel Toiran expressed that the team's performance had not yet reached its peak. He pointed to the players' physical condition, stating that they were still recovering from the demanding first round held in the Philippines. "Yes, this is actually in line with what we planned," Toiran said post-match. "The children looked like they were playing hesitantly. They were still uncertain in terms of physical condition. There were points that were missed, delayed, or attacks that were not maximized. That's because of their physical condition."

Toiran identified improving player fitness as the primary task for the team during the second round of the SEA V Cup. He emphasized that the tournament also serves as crucial preparation for the 2026 Asian Games. "From the first impression we saw, the aspect that most needs improvement is the players' physical condition. Currently, their fitness is still not optimal," Toiran stated. "We are also still looking for the best composition for the Asian Games. This is indeed a warm-up event."

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From the first impression we saw, the aspect that most needs improvement is the players' physical condition. Currently, their fitness is still not optimal. We are also still looking for the best composition for the Asian Games. This is indeed a warm-up event.

Despite the concerns about fitness, the victory over Cambodia was hard-fought, especially in the first set, before Indonesia dominated the subsequent sets. Cambodia, the champions of the first round, struggled to counter Indonesia's powerful smashes, while their own attacks were often blocked. Team captain Farhan Halim acknowledged that he and his teammates were not in their best physical shape but stressed their effort to maintain confidence and support each other. "Yes, maybe it's the same as what Coach Toiran said, our physical condition is indeed not optimal. But we try to keep pushing our abilities. Thankfully, in the end, we could achieve the desired result," Farhan said.

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Yes, maybe it's the same as what Coach Toiran said, our physical condition is indeed not optimal. But we try to keep pushing our abilities. Thankfully, in the end, we could achieve the desired result.