The Kuala Lumpur Thunder were unable to replicate their 2018 Sepak Takraw League (STL) Premier performance against the ATM Guardians as they were beaten by the Terengganu Turtles on Saturday.

The Thunder, who handed the league leaders their first loss of the season, lost in straight sets to the Terengganu side boosted by the return of Asian Games gold medalist Zulkifli Abdul Razak, who linked up with the team on Friday for his first appearance of the season.

The tekong star put in an impressive 85% serving percentage and grab seven points to lead the Turtles to their first win in four matches.

The defeat allowed the Guardians to restore a two-point cushion at the top after they bounced back with a 2-1 win over the struggling Selangor Pistons in an earlier match.

The league leaders looked shaky at first as they committed 11 errors to lose the first set 16-21, but Hairul Haidzir later put in a tekong masterclass to help the Guardians win the remaining sets 21-15, 21-6.



It got worse for the Thunder as the Penang Black Panthers overtook them for second place by beating the Perak Bison 2-1.

After having a poor start with their starting trio of Zaim Razali, Said Ezwan Said and Kamal Ishak, losing 16-21, the defending champions brought on star players Syahir Rosdi and Azlan Alias.

With the 2018 Asian Games gold medalists on the court, the Panthers rallied back into the game and took the remaining sets 21-19, 21-10.



Meanwhile, in the first match of the day at the Gem In Mall, Cyberjaya, the Johor Tigris emerged victorious against the PDRM Defenders, winning 21-11, 20-22, 21-8.