Pair of Ps top NMIVA qualifier

Marino Pungilug and Jess Palacios emerged victorious from a nine-team field of Saipan’s top tandems on Saturday as the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association held its first qualifying tournament for next summer’s 2006 Micronesian Games at the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio.

The dynamic duo did so by cruising through the tournament unscathed before edging the crafty combo of Kittinan Intharaluk and Taula Peter, 21-15, in the finals. After drawing a first-round bye, the Killer Ps laid waste to Tyce Mister and Pedro Iguel, before toppling Bruce Berline and Rob Eply, 21-16, to earn a match with Dan Westphal and Martin Castro in the semifinals.

Pungilug and Palacios notched another 21-15 win over the Managaha mavens to reach the finals. Intharaluk and Peter didn’t have the same luck through the double-elimination tournament as they were sent to the losers’ bracket after Mister and Iguel bounced them from the winners 21-19.

Every game was a must win from there on out as two of Saipan’s top players found themselves on the verge of making an early exit from the competition, but the tandem rallied their resources to win the next five matches to earn a bid in the finals.

Even more valuable than the prizes and bragging rights, Pungilug and Palacios gained 15 points in the race to represent the CNMI on the sand in the Micro Games next summer. Intharaluk and Peter picked up 13 apiece, while Westphal and Castro combo garnered 11 points.

The women got their first qualifier underway on the following day as Heather Kennedy and Laurie Peterka topped the eight ladies squads by traveling down a path similar to that of the top men’s team.

Kennedy and Peterka only needed to win four bouts to win the tournament, as they dispatched all their foes, but they faced different challenges along their road to the finals.

After downing 2005 Palau South Pacific Mini Games player Melissa Halaby and Lena Guzman, 21-15, the pair faced stiff competition from Stephanie Arnold and Jazmine Anastacio. The match went down to the wire, but the eventual champs escaped with a 21-19 win to advance to meet Benylynn Mettao and Sia Dela Cruz.

Another closely contested match ensued as Peterka and Kennedy needed extra points to reach the final, 23-21.

Peterka’s pair also gained the all-valuable 15 points each for the rep-race, while Saiki and Butcher tallied 13 apiece, and Mettao and Dela Cruz earned 11 up.