ASIAN Games gold medallist Adrian Ang is hitting the right chords at the ongoing Milo International Junior All Stars Championships.

Adrian, also a former national champion, blazed the lanes with a 767 total to reclaim pole position in the local pool, dislodging Syimir Abdul Razak (755) at the Pyramid Megalanes in Bandar Sunway yesterday.

The Penang-born wants to win the event in hope of earning a spot in the men's national squad for next month's Asian Championships in the United Arab Emirates.

The Asian No 9 has been in terrific form throughout the year and made his mark by winning the doubles competition with veteran Alex Liew in last month's Guangzhou Asian Games.

For the record, the 23-year-old has won the boys' open title in two previous editions of the All Stars Championships.

In third position is national youth bowler Johnathan Chan on 747, nine pins ahead of Muhd Syafiq.

In the overseas pool, Australia's Ashley Warren leads with a 755 total, just a mere two pins more than Singapore's Justin Lim. Compatriot Daniel Webb is third on 740.

Sin Li Jane, a national back-up bowler and Lim Hsu Zen are joint leaders in the girls' open with an identical score of 736 pinfalls.

National elite bowler Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, who is hoping for redemption in this event after she was dropped from the Asian Games squad, is third on 695.

In the overseas pool, Australia's Libby Embury leads with 686, ahead of Singapore's Kwa Ai Teng (677) and Bernice Lim (649).

The men's and women's Open champions will be decided today.

RESULTS --Boys' Under-15: 1 Shaun Lau (Sin) 1,692; 2 Muhammad Danial (Mas) 1,631; 3 Muhammad Rafiq Ismail (Mas) 1,623.

Under-12: 1 Soh Yong Ping (Sin) 1,618; 2 Afiq Irsyaduddin (Mas) 1,437; 3 Sean Gabriel (Sin) 1,431.

Girls' Under-15: Steffira Zeandea Greater (Mas) 1,669; 2 Victoria Chin (Mas) 1,647; 3 Kwa Lay Teng (Sin) 1,631.

Under-12: 1 Nur Dayana (Mas) 1,488; 2 Ayra Nur Jehan (Mas) 1,485; 3 Amanda Lee (Sin) 1,442.

WHILE saluting Safee Sali, coach K. Rajagobal has cautioned that the job is only half-done after Malaysia gained a crucial two-goal advantage ahead of the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second leg against Vietnam in Hanoi tomorrow.

Mindful that Vietnam handed Myanmar a 7-1 drubbing in their opening Group B match, Rajagobal said the national team deserved their 2-0 win in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday but that was no guarantee of making the final for the first time in 14 years.

"I am looking forward to the next match. The boys showed we had the spark and they really wanted it and were hungry for it.

"The difference (in the first leg) was that we made use of our chances and Vietnam did not. Our finishing was better, that separated the two teams.

"But the job is not done. We have a 2-0 lead and the boys are overjoyed but we know Vietnam will be difficult to beat on their home ground.

"We still have another 90 minutes to play but the opportunity is there and I will leave it to the players to put in another effort.

"What I will be telling the players is that we now have a chance to get to the final, so why not make use of it? " said Rajagobal after Malaysia beat Vietnam for the first time in 10 years.

Safee was the hero of the night, his predatory instincts bringing a brace in the 60th and 80th minutes for his first international goals in two years.

The Selangor striker was swamped by fans as he made his way to the team bus, an acknowledgement that he retains the faith of the supporters despite only now making his comeback to the national team.

"This is more than I could have expected. I had my chances and I took it. I'm glad my goals gave the team the win and I want to thank the fans for their support.

"I hope I'll score again in Hanoi and hopefully give us the away goal that will settle the tie," said Safee, who has recovered from a calf injury which saw him miss the last match against Laos in Palembang.

After a rather subdued first half when they allowed Vietnam to dictate terms, Rajagobal said a more aggressive display by the home team in the second half turned the game around.

"In the first half we sat back and allowed Vietnam to dominate ball possession. Vietnam should have scored then but credit to the defenders for rising to the occasion.

"For the second half, we needed to be more aggressive or we would have been asking for trouble. We had more urgency and raised the tempo.

"Once the first goal came, I knew we would get a second. We should have scored a third but the players were tiring. We also did not give away a goal and kept the defence intact," said Rajagobal, who left with the squad for Hanoi yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, Indonesia beat the Philippines 1-0 in the first leg semi-final with a goal by Cristian Gonzales in the 31st minute at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta yesterday.