Lost Boyz survive to keep top spot

The Lost Boyz barely escaped from the friendly confines of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with their perfect record on Tuesday night, as they staved off defeat by winning the final set against the Chuukanos to continue their reign over the Island Wide Volleyball League.

Freddy Pelisamen, Nan Intharaluk and Nick Castro proved to be the difference makers in the win over the upstart Chuukanos (2-4), but they were on the losing end of a spirited 25-23 first set that revealed a possible chink in the armor of the Boyz.

The Ada Gym fell silent in the gap between the sets, as the Lost Boyz (6-0) contemplated succumbing to the Chuukanos for their first loss of the season, but it was not their time to lose. In the second set, Pelisamen racked up more kills than a backwoods trapper, as he combined with Intharaluk and Castro for seven Ks in their 25-17 comeback.

With the set count tied at one apiece, the teams conferred with their coaches and broke from their huddle to start the third and final set.

The first place Lost Boyz were the first to get into a groove in the race to 15 points, and led by as much as 13-4 at one point before the tide began to turn. Quietly the Chuukanos began to chip into the lead. J-Luck Takoichu’s streaking cross-court save kept the rally going, and soon the Lost Boyz were forced to call a time out to halt the momentum with the score 13-9.

After they collected their faculties, the Lost Boyz regained the service and finished the set with a score of 15-9 to earn their sixth win of the season. The Lost Boyz return to action next Tuesday, Jan. 18, when they face the Managaha Chiefs (5-1) at 6:30pm, while the Chuukanos play the final game of the first round against the same Chiefs on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 7:30.

The early match in the men’s league featured a battle between two 4-1 teams with eyes on the title, as Shag and No Fear squared off for a showdown at 6:30 on the North court. No Fear continued their winning streak with a two set win over Shag, 25-23 and 25-22, but it was much closer than they would have liked.

No Fear has yet to lose when they take the floor at the Ada Gym, as their only tally in the loss column came as a result of a forfeit when their players attended a tournament at the Pacific Islands Club early on in the season.

With the win, No Fear kept pace with the Managaha Chiefs to raise their record to 5-1, while Shag dropped to 4-2, a game above NMC Proa (3-3). The fearless bunch returns to the North court next Tuesday, when they face the Monarchs (0-5) at 7:30pm, while Shag battled Proa last night. Results of the match were not available as of press time.

Big time matches continued to be the theme of the night in the women’s league as well, as the She Devils knocked off Pikan Gaga to climb to within one game of the previously undefeated juggernauts.

After taking the first set 25-19, the She Devils smelled blood in the water, and began to encircle Pikan Gaga with their well-disciplined play. Lorna Iginoef, Percy Torres, and Nadia Saralu had other plans, as the Gaga girls rebounded to edge the She Devils by a 25-23 score in the second set to even the set count at one apiece.

Mayumi Aguon railed off five consecutive serves to get the Devils on the board with five points in the final race to 15, but Vanessa Mobel added five of her own for Pikan Gaga to notch point number 11. Bego Camacho served up the 12th point for Pikan Gaga, but it was their last, as the winning service came off of the arm of the She Devils’ Arcy Moncrief.

Pikan Gaga returned to the South court of the Ada Gym last night against the Dragons (6-1), as did the She Devils against the Hitters (1-5), but results were not available as of press time.

The final match of the night featured a one-sided affair between Bootylicious (4-4) and T-8 (1-6) that allowed Bootylicious to even their record and further solidify their place in the fourth spot in the standings with a two set win, 25-18 and 25-13.

Bootylicious is back next Tuesday to take on the She Devils at 7:30pm, while T-8 continues their search for their second win on Tuesday, Jan. 25, when they take on the She Devils at 7:30pm.