Ochobu manhandling Lagooners in Rocball semis

Ochobu came ready to play while the Lagooners didn’t as the 2006 World Organized Rocball action resumed with the High School League semifinals yesterday at the Marianas High School Green Court.

Focused and determined to earn a ticket to the best-of-five championship series, the Ochobu players entered with their game faces on, dominated, and currently lead the match, 48-18, after three sets of play.

Ochobu was on fire from the start as Ichnis Kapwich smacked in a kee, Awes Kawes dropped in two aces, and David Tisa connected for a couple of kills to spearhead the team to a 13-0 lead.

The Lagooners failed to recover and was finally able to keep a point on the board—they scored earlier but lost the point on a mishap on first serve. In the end, though, Ochobu was able to take the set with ease, 16-1.

Ochobu carried its dominance over to the second set and took advantage of the Lagooners’ sloppy play to take a 6-0 lead, with Kapwich hitting an ace in the process. The Lagooners finally managed to get on the board. Danny Daniel was able to bring the Lagooners closer when he connected for a goal off serve and followed up with another serve that Ochobu was not able to return, 7-13, but just as it seemed the Lagooners were going to close in, Ochobu went on another run to take command. Tisa, Tarnes Kapwich, and Kawes Awes each had a kee to lead Ochobu to the 17-8 win.

After two sets of play, Ochobu led by a commanding 24 points, 33-9.

Ohcobu again came out firing and opened up an 8-0 lead before allowing the Lagooners to get on the scoreboard in third set. Another mishap on serve brought the Lagooners back to zero, but the team was able to recover and began to inch closer, 5-9. Tito Francisco then nailed a kee for the Lagooners and the two teams exchanged scoring points.

Ochobu began to make mistakes and was stuck at set point, allowing the Lagooners to close in, 10-14.

J.R. Rudolph then hammered the final nail in the set as he pounded the ball for a kill for the win.

Awes currently leads the game with eight points on three aces and a kee, while Ichnis Kapwich has six points on an ace, a xunk, and a kee.

Daniel and Francisco had three and two points for the Lagooners.

The fourth set resumes today at 11:30am. The Lagooners must win to force o-kon.

Meanwhile, the other semifinals features defending champion and still undefeated Mwaliyas taking on No. 4 Black Magic.