The 2nd Round of the CNVLD National A-League Volleyball Competition was played in the Olympic Stadium for the first time ever Saturday 4th and the athletes Stood Up to the occasion with the exceptional standard of play lighting up the arena with the Olympic Stadium now the official home base for all 2007 A-League games.

With a vastly improved venue and pressure for the Cambodian National World Cup squad selection increasing, the 2nd Round saw some serious upsets as many athletes and lower ranking teams displayed the results of serious training.

By far the biggest giant killing of the day was the rejuvenated Prey Veng Kingmaker Cobras overcoming the 2006 Grand Final runners-up, the Siem Reap DHL Eagles. After losing the first set, the Kingmaker Cobras coiled and sprung back to win 2-1, sparking off wild celebrations with all eight other teams joining the Cobras on court. After barely scraping through into the 2007 A-League, the Prey Veng Kingmaker Cobras, under new coach Nok Rotha are certainly a team to watch in 2007.

The Siem Reap DHL Eagles, once one of the most feared teams in the National League are now languishing in 6th place after only winning two of their four games.

The Takeo ISPP-Templestowe Falcons also caused an upset in the last game of the day by overcoming the Phnom Penh Hagar/Confirel Koupreys in a nail-biting game which went to the final point. The Falcons victory came thanks to the inspirational leadership of Coach Meas Sabon and the team’s exceptional cohesion and communication. The win was their second of the day propelling them up to 3rd place on the National League Ladder, their highest ever placing. Sports fans heard it here first – the Falcons are flying high!

The Kompong Speu Cambodia Air Catering Services Scorpions also had a great day winning two of their three games with clean sheets which sees them move to 4th place on the ladder. Only the high flying Takeo Falcons could stop Pin Sarath’s team.

The Phnom Penh Sunway Hotel Dragons continued their complete domination with two clean sweeps putting them on the top of the League with a game in hand. The Battambang SWG Tigers continue to put in solid performances to keep them mid-table while the Pailin ICBL Hawks and the Prey Veng Kingmaker Cobras are neck and neck for 7th place

Alarm bells are ringing in Kompong Speu however with the AusAID Kangaroos and the Canada Bears having lost all their games so far with a 0-4 deficit.

All A-League Athletes have now been officially classified to international standards thanks to the invaluable work of Dr. Aaron Root in Phnom Penh and Mrs Jennie Cole of the Australian Paralympic Committee in Australia.

All the results,standings and team profiles are posted live here on www.standupcambodia.org

The CNVLD wishes to thank the Management of the Olympic Stadium for their support for the Athletes with a Disability of Cambodia, Dr Aaron Root for his outstanding ongoing medical support and ICRC Kompong Speu for the provision of a qualified CPO.

With the 1st Round of the B-League scheduled for Saturday 11th August at the Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre and the 3rd Round A-League at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday 25th August, the Athletes with a Disability of Cambodia are proving they’re among the best in the country.